Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages {100 Acts of Kindness}

Have you heard of the 100 Acts of Kindness Project? The project was hosted by Toddler Approved and Coffee Cups and Crayons. It started each year on Martin Luther King Day and ended on Valentine’s Day. There wasn’t a formal 100 Acts of Kindness group last year (and I don’t see one this year, either). But it’s a great project for families however it’s done! We’re continuing our 100 Acts of Kindness as a fun family tradition now.

The 100 Acts of Kindness Project is very adaptable. You don’t have to start it right on Martin Luther King Day. It isn’t just for parents with young children. It can even be adaptable enough to work during a pandemic. The activities below can also be used for a kindness project during Random Acts of Kindness Week or any time!

My family has participated in 100 Acts of Kindness on some level each year. We participated with my kids and kids-in-law from 2011-2014 and with my granddaughter, Zoey, in 2015-2017. We added Zoey’s baby sister, Sophia, in 2018 and their cousin (my daughter’s new son, Caleb) in 2019.

The world needs some extra kindness, and this project is a wonderful reminder to be kinder to the people and world around us. You can use weekly challenges to help give inspiration and ideas, although you can structure your 100 Acts of Kindness however you wish. And if 100 Acts of Kindness doesn’t work for you, just do as many kind acts as possible. As Mother Teresa said: “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Really, just do what you can.

Following are some resources for doing 100 Acts of Kindness Project with your unique family, whatever your children’s ages are.

100 Acts of Kindness for Families with Young Children

I think early childhood might be the easiest stage of development to introduce children to 100 Acts of Kindness. It’s definitely the perfect time to start … as early as when your child is a toddler. You’ll find LOTS of ideas for activities each week through the 100 Acts of Kindness posts from previous years at Toddler Approved and Coffee Cups and Crayons.

My family tends to use a specific focus for the year’s 100 Acts of Kindness Project rather than weekly challenges. Read below to see what my family has done!

We started the 100 Acts of Kindness Project with my granddaughter, Zoey, when she was a 14-month-old toddler. You can see what we did in my post on “Including a Toddler in the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge.” You’ll find more in my follow-up post “Using Montessori Principles in the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge.”

While Zoey was still a toddler, at age 2, we had “Focusing on Toddler Manners in the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge.” and “Completing 100 Acts of Kindness (Toddler Manners Challenge) and Starting 100+ Acts of Kindness.”

When Zoey was 3 years old, we had fun “Encouraging 100 Acts of Kindness with the Kindness Elves” and “Fun with Kindness Elves, 100 Acts of Kindness, and the Kind Words Challenge.”

Zoey had her new baby sister join us in 2018 on a “100 Acts of Kindness Challenge for Big Sisters and Big Brothers.”

In 2019, we had a “Family 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge for Babies and Older Children.”

In 2020, we had a “Family and Neighborhood 100 Acts of Kindness for Toddlers on Up.”

In 2021, I prepared a book basket to encourage kindness, and we emphasized kindness within the family and our little social bubble.

In 2022, we used our 100 Acts of Kindness Chart, 100 hearts sensory bottle, and kindness book basket. We focused on acts of kindness in the family and reading books about empathy. We followed up with songs and educational videos about empathy.

From November 15-December 15, 2022, we had a kindness unit. You’ll find free kindness printables and activities from our kindness unit at LivingMontessoriNow.com. For our 2023 100 Acts of Kindness Project, I’m definitely planning to add the free printable that just says: “I saw ____________ show kindness today by ______________.” Our focus this year will be kindness toward family and friends. We’re just starting a germ unit, so part of our emphasis will be on kind, healthy habits we can follow to help our family and friends (and us) stay healthy.

100 Acts of Kindness Based on Interests

At Living Montessori Now, I have a post with Montessori-inspired 100 Acts of Kindness activities and resources: Montessori-Inspired Kindness. Because Montessori emphasizes following the child’s interests, you’ll find activities for children through adults based on interests.

100 Acts of Kindness for Families with Children Who Are Pre-Teens through Adults (or for Adults in General)

This is where the 100 Acts of Kindness Project gets tricky. As I said, Montessori emphasizes following interests at any age. I still use that principle if my adult children ask for my opinion and even in deciding what I want to do. Pre-teens through young adults are often very busy with their own projects and activities. Volunteer projects are wonderful for developing compassion, strengthening leadership skills, and even building resumes. At the same time, you want the project to be something your child wants to do.

I think it’s important for older children to choose their level of involvement. That way, the project will have much more meaning and will be more likely to develop compassion and other positive qualities you want to see in your children. If your child just wants to focus on remembering to be kind, that’s alright. I think that’s one of the best things about the 100 Acts of Kindness Project. Even though I try to be kind as a regular part of my life, I appreciate the reminder to do something extra whenever I can between Martin Luther King Day and Valentine’s Day. It’s 25 days rather than 30 days as in my typical 30-Day Challenges, but it’s still long enough to help develop the habit of focusing on being kind.

Try a Little Kindness (here) and Join the 100 Acts of Kindness Project at Living Montessori Now (with the link to a 100 Acts of Kindness chart that works well for older children and adults) have lots of ideas for older children and adults.

For example, if the kindness challenge is to show some love to your environment, you could be like the star of this video at any age!

Many activities can be simple and spontaneous. My family has done simple activities ranging from eGreetings or Skype greetings to relatives to helping elderly people who are having difficulty in stores. If you focus on finding a kindness project or projects that your individual children are interested in – and that they choose – you’re more likely to have a fulfilling and successful experience. If you or your child(ren) choose a large project, you could have an amazing experience.

As part of the 100 Acts of Kindness Project 2014, my daughter and I shared “Operation Beautiful Meets 100 Acts of Kindness Project” or “Family Fun with 100 Acts of Kindness and Operation Beautiful.” That was an especially meaningful project for us.

List of My 100 Acts of Kindness Posts

“Practice Random Kindness” Word Art Freebie

My 100 Acts of Kindness Posts:

Join the 100 Acts of Kindness Project (2011)
Try a Little Kindness (2012)
Kindness Challenge #2: Montessori-Inspired Kindness (2012)
Montessori-Inspired 100 Acts of Kindness Project (2013)
Operation Beautiful Meets 100 Acts of Kindness Project (2014)
Family Fun with 100 Acts of Kindness and Operation Beautiful (2014)
Including a Toddler in the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge (2015)
Using Montessori Principles in the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge (2015)
Focusing on Toddler Manners in the 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge (2016)
Completing 100 Acts of Kindness (Toddler Manners challenge) and Starting 100+ Acts of Kindness (2016)
Encouraging 100 Acts of Kindness with the Kindness Elves (2017)
Fun with Kindness Elves, 100 Acts of Kindness, and the Kind Words Challenge (2017)
100 Acts of Kindness Challenge for Big Sisters and Big Brothers (2018)
Family 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge for Babies and Older Children (2019)
Family and Neighborhood 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge for Toddlers on Up (2020)
How to Prepare a Book Basket That Encourages Kindness (2021)
Focusing on acts of kindness in the family and reading books about empathy. We followed up with songs and educational videos about empathy. (2022)
Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages {100 Acts of Kindness} (2023)

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I’d love it if you’d join my family and me in the 100 Acts of Kindness Project!

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