Simple Ways to Make a Difference in the World

I 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.

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.

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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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!