National Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17! This annual celebration is an opportunity to perform acts of kindness and instill a habit of kindness and generosity in our everyday lives. Through simple gestures, words of support, and actions, the goal is to make the world a better place.
The history of this holiday is longer than most awareness days. It originated almost 30 years ago.
Random Acts of Kindness Day dates back to 1995 when it was created by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. In 2004, it was adopted in New Zealand, and now, the holiday is celebrated all over the world in different ways.
The premise is simple. Similar to holidays like World Kindness Day, this is an annual opportunity to dive deep into kindness and compassion and exercise our kindness muscle in new ways.
While it’s important to be kind every single day, Random Acts of Kindness Day can be a catalyst for doing even more acts of kindness year-round. To make it easier, we’ve created a guide on how to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day this year.
By the way, some of the links in this article (like books!) are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Activities and Ideas: How To Celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Day
Learn
Learn about why kindness matters.
Scientists back it up: Kindness is powerful. In fact, when witnessing or participating in good deeds, our brains benefit; oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine ramp up, and we might even experience a boost of energy.
Most importantly, we’re doing something that helps another person. Building community through encouragement and inclusion is always a positive.
To learn a little more about the science of kindness, check out this video from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.
Read books about kindness.
Being kind to one another is usually as simple as extending a helping hand, but if you want to get a more complete picture of kindness, what motivates us to be kind, or how we can be even kinder, here are some great reads to add to your bookshelf:
- “The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World” by Jamil Zaki | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop | Listen on Libro.fm
- “Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading” by Chris Anderson | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop | Listen on Libro.fm
- “Deep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness” By Houston Kraft | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop | Listen on Libro.fm
- “Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever” by Gavin Edwards | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop | Listen on Libro.fm
- “Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community” by Lady Gaga and the Born This Way Foundation | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop | Listen on Libro.fm
Listen to podcasts about kindness.
For the podcast nerds in the house, you can learn about kindness, too. Here are a few podcast episodes we’d recommend:
- “Maia & Alex Shibutani — Taking Kindness to the Olympics” on Sounds Good
- “Orly Wahba — Using Kindness to Empower Others” on Sounds Good
- “Side Effects of Kindness (with Yvette Nicole Brown)” on Small Doses with Amanda Seales
- “Let’s Talk About It… Kindness” on Let’s Talk About Mental Health
Read and share quotes about being kind.
Quotes can be a great way to get a bite-size insight from leaders and changemakers at the top of their fields. Plus, they really can compel us to do more good — or at least take part in our collective humanity.
We’ve curated a list of the best quotes about kindness.
Here are a few more quote roundups to give you a little inspiration:
- Quotes about optimism (from optimists)
- Quotes about making a difference in the world
- Quotes about hope to encourage & inspire you
- Quotes about activism (from activists)
- Quotes about social justice
- Quotes about positivity
Celebrate
Do a random act of kindness.
Perhaps the best way to celebrate Random Act of Kindness Day is to, well, do a random act of kindness.
From holding the door for someone or helping your neighbor carry in their groceries, to hosting a trash clean-up in your community or volunteering at an afterschool program, you’d be surprised how far your impact can go.
You can also up the ante and pledge to actively participate in one random act of kindness every day! Don’t worry; we’ve compiled a list of over 100 ideas to practice random acts of kindness to make it even easier.
Help someone in your community.
Even if it seems small to help just one person, the ripple effect of your time and generosity is immeasurable. Doing something to help a neighbor in need makes it that much easier for them to offer their support to someone else… and so on.
Consider assembling care packages for unhoused folks in your area, organizing a mutual aid fundraiser for a friend down on their luck, or even sharing produce from your garden with your next-door neighbor.
Advocate for a better world.
Kindness is at the heart of our desire for a better world. Whether you’re passionate about climate activism, gender equality, the future of LGBTQ+ youth, or even the transportation options in your city, taking action in support of a cause that matters to you is itself an act of kindness.
Start by thoughtfully consuming the news, calling your elected officials, supporting mutual aid funds, or volunteering to support a cause you care about.
Be a little kinder to yourself.
Kindness is certainly a social activity, but it can also be done in the privacy of our own lives, too. Take this day as a sign to check in with yourself and see how you can integrate some proactive self-care into your routine so you don’t end up pouring from an empty cup.
At Work
Host a Random Acts of Kindness Challenge at the office.
Bring random acts of kindness to the forefront by challenging your coworkers to participate in and log their random acts of kindness for the week, month, or quarter.
See how much you can all accomplish together and what specific actions are most appreciated among this community.
Volunteer with your team.
Use Random Acts of Kindness Day as a catalyst for volunteering in the community! Whether you collect donations in the office, use your unique skills to support a local nonprofit, or host a fundraising event, there are endless possibilities for how you can make a difference.
Take the ‘Kindness At Work Pledge.’
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation offers a pledge and employee letter for companies and organizations to adopt in their workplaces.
The pledge asks companies to “make kindness the norm” through a welcoming environment, showing integrity, and acting within one’s values.
Companies are then able to display a “Kindness in the Workplace” sign in the entrance of their facilities to spread the word.
For Students
Brainstorm — and enact — random acts of kindness with students.
Empower students to think of random acts of kindness they can achieve in school, on the playground, at home, or in the hallways. Then, challenge them to work together to make those ideas a reality.
You can also integrate these ideas into existing curriculum, like creating a painted rock garden during an art lesson.
Read children’s books about kindness.
Motivating students to participate in random acts of kindness is a whole lot easier when you have the reading lesson to back it up. Here are a few books you can bring into the classroom for Random Acts of Kindness Day.
- “The Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop
- “Secret Kindness Agents: How Small Acts of Kindness Really Can Change the World” by Ferial Pearson | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop
- “The Circles All Around Us” by Brad Montague, illustrated by Kristi Montague | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop
- “Hello, Neighbor! The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers” written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop
- “The Sound of Kindness” by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater, illustrated by Teresa Martinez | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop
Start a Kindness Club.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation actually provides resources to help schools and students start their very own Kindness Clubs! This is a great way for students to work together, serve their community, and build lifelong skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is National Random Acts of Kindness Day?
National Random Acts of Kindness Day takes place every year on February 17. Celebrated by individuals, groups, and organizations, this day is devoted to doing acts of kindness. Some groups might celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, during the week of February 17, as well.
What is the theme of Random Acts of Kindness Day 2024?
In 2024, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is focusing on the theme “Make kindness the norm” for National Random Acts of Kindness Day. The organization offers social media graphics, free printables, information about the science of kindness, kindness ideas, and more.
