• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bits of Positivity

Inspiration | Quotes | Parenting | Character Education

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • Terms
    • Privacy Policy
  • Character Education
    • Best Books for Kids
    • Gratitude
    • Kindness
    • Making a Difference
  • Growth Mindset
  • Mindfulness
  • Best Quotes
  • Freebies

Simple Ways to Make a Difference in the World

July 17, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 19 Comments

Previous article: Ellie Activewear and Stages of a Woman’s Life
Next article: August is Happiness Happens Month!
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Simple Ways to Make a Difference in the WorldI always loved finding ways to make a difference in the world. I also loved to help my kids make a difference and develop compassion and empathy at the same time.

Service projects are great for helping children develop compassion. I tell more about that in a post at Living Montessori Now on “How to Help Your Kids Develop Compassion through Social Projects.”

Bloggers Who Inspire the World to Help Others

Today, it’s easy to find ways to make a difference – through both simple acts of kindness or more elaborate projects. Sheila from Pennies of Time has an amazing resource called “Bloggers Who Inspire the World to Help Others.”

I’m very honored to be included in Sheila’s post. A number of the bloggers in the post are ones who’ve inspired and organized some of the service projects I’ve been involved in. I  have a category of Making a Difference posts here at Bits of Positivity (formerly called Raising Figure Skaters) about some of those projects.

Not all service projects need to be elaborate. Many of the bloggers in Sheila’s post have very simple projects that families can do together.

The original sidebar at Pennies of Time focused on what Sheila and her husband did with two young boys and is an inspiration in itself:

“We take 15-20 minutes each day to serve . . . a small moment, a ‘penny of time.’

We’ve been completing a “penny of time” with our children every day for 10 months. From what started as a way to try teaching our children to serve in small experiences . . . not knowing what it would become, it is now our way of life!”

Simple Service Projects for Families

Coffee Cups and Crayons has an Acts of Kindness series with activities as simple as leaving a kind sidewalk chalk message.

You’ll find lots of other simple ideas (along with more elaborate ideas) if you check out all the blogs in Sheila’s post. You’ll be inspired!

A Simple but Important Way for Adults to Make a Difference in the World

One of the simplest ways you as an adult and parent can make a positive difference is to always be kind online. Cyber bullying is a problem that’s encouraged or discouraged by parents’ behavior online. I have a post called “Be Kind Online” with anti-bullying resources.

Be Kind Online

If you’re reading this, you probably aren’t one of the people who needs to be reminded to be kind online. Please feel free to share the “Be Kind Online” Freebie. Of course, I always appreciate when you link back to me when you share it.

I’d love to see the world become kinder online. This is essential for us as role models for children, but it’s also essential if we’re going to make the world online a friendlier place for everyone.

Author Glennon Doyle says: “There are not two of you- Internet you and Real you. There is only one of you. If you aren’t kind on the Internet, then you’re not kind.”

Let’s all work together to make the world a better place. That doesn’t have to be difficult.

Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages

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)

Wondering where it’s best to follow me?

If you’re interested in kid-related content, sign up for the Living Montessori Now newsletter. I share my Bits of Positivity parenting and character-education posts in the weekly Living Montessori Now newsletter along with lots of great kids’ activities and Montessori ideas from my Living Montessori Now blog. You’ll get a monthly freebie (and previous monthly freebies) with link and password if you subscribe to the Living Montessori Now weekly newsletter!

 


If you’re interested in inspiration and motivation, the best place for you will probably be the Bits of Positivity Facebook page. You’ll find lots of inspiration there from the Bits of Positivity blog and from around the Internet. For word art inspiration, be sure to follow me at the Bits of Positivity Facebook page and on Pinterest! Thanks so much!

 

Related Posts

  • Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages {100 Acts of Kindness}Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages {100 Acts of Kindness}
  • New Traditions for Our Annual Family Food and Toy DriveNew Traditions for Our Annual Family Food and Toy Drive
  • The Kindness Elves, Pete the Cat, and Our 9th Annual Family Food and Toy DriveThe Kindness Elves, Pete the Cat, and Our 9th Annual Family Food and Toy Drive
  • Activities for Kids and Adults on International Day of Peace and World Gratitude DayActivities for Kids and Adults on International Day of Peace and World Gratitude Day
  • The Kindness Elves, Pete the Cat, and Our 8th Annual Family Food and Toy DriveThe Kindness Elves, Pete the Cat, and Our 8th Annual Family Food and Toy Drive
  • Make a Difference – Global Youth Service DayMake a Difference – Global Youth Service Day
  • The Kindness Elves, Pete the Cat, and Our 7th Annual Family Food and Toy DriveThe Kindness Elves, Pete the Cat, and Our 7th Annual Family Food and Toy Drive
  • The Golden Rule for Back to SchoolThe Golden Rule for Back to School
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Previous article: Ellie Activewear and Stages of a Woman’s Life
Next article: August is Happiness Happens Month!

Filed Under: Making a Difference, Parents' Role Tagged With: Bloggers Who Inspire the World to Help Others, family service projects, make a difference, service projects

Previous Post: « Ellie Activewear and Stages of a Woman’s Life
Next Post: August is Happiness Happens Month! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sheila says

    July 18, 2013 at 7:19 am

    Thank you for this post! Thank you for sharing the work that we do, and thank you for always being an example to us on reaching out to others and using our skills to make someone’s life better!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:03 pm

      Thanks so much for your sweet comment, Sheila! I truly appreciate all the work you do, too. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    July 18, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    Deb, I absolutely LOVe this post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with love and care not criticizing, but encouraging.

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:04 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind comment, Rebecca! I always appreciate your kind and thoughtful posts and comments, too. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  3. heidi says

    July 18, 2013 at 11:28 pm

    It’s so great to learn about so many projects that are making positive things happen in the world.

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:05 pm

      Thanks so much for your comment, Heidi! It is amazing, isn’t it?! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Chelsea says

    July 19, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    I love all this love going around the blogosphere ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:06 pm

      Thanks so much, Chelsea. I definitely love it, too. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  5. Krystle says

    July 21, 2013 at 3:11 pm

    Wise words and great resources!! Pinned it!! Thanks for sharing this with us at One Sharendipity Place this weekend!!

    Krys @thet2women.com and www.worshipingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:06 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind comment and for pinning my post, Krystle! I really appreciate it. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  6. Sarah says

    July 22, 2013 at 5:42 am

    This is a lovely post – filled with inspirational resources. I really like it!

    I’d love if you’d like to link up to my Inspire linkup each Monday. I have left a little link to it at the bottom of my comment if you’d like to check it out.

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:09 pm

      Thanks so much, Sarah! I’m linked up. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  7. Keitha says

    July 22, 2013 at 8:08 pm

    Great post! Thanks for sharing all of these links.

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:12 pm

      Thanks so much, Keitha! I hope you find some ideas that are perfect for your family. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  8. Sheila at Longings End says

    July 25, 2013 at 10:25 am

    Love is patient. Love is KIND. Thanks for sharing these simple, yet often overlooked truths. Visiting from Thoughtful Thursdays. Blessings to you…

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:13 pm

      Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment, Sheila. Blessings to you, too. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  9. Carrie says

    July 26, 2013 at 2:46 pm

    What a great post!! It is so important to teach kindness and compassion as well as for us to be kind especially on line. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:11 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind comment, Carrie … and for hosting Sharing Saturday. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  10. Leo says

    October 19, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    Great post Deb!!! The Oct 26 is just in few days, lets all make a difference on that day.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Connect With Me

   

Search

    Translate to:

    Powered by Google Translate.
Montessori at Home or School - How to Teach Grace and Courtesy

Browse Categories

Categories

Archives

Popular Posts

I Recommend:

How to Get Kids to Listen without Nagging, Reminding, or Yelling

Shop Pura Vida Bracelets Online

Word Art Information

If you want to share any of my word-art files, please share the link to the blog post the word art is on. If you use my word art on your blog or website, please credit me and link to the original blog post. You’re welcome to share any of my word-art images on sites like Facebook, but use the image with the URL. Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

Footer

You Can Also Find Me

PreK + K Sharing Spring Snow Publications
Living Montessori Now

Connect With Me

   

Copyright © 2025 Deb Chitwood ยท Foodie Pro ยท Genesis Framework by StudioPress Themes ยท Design By The Creative Pad