Encourage your children to practice kindness.

Just like academic skills, social skills — including kindness, empathy, and respect — become second nature with practice.

The more children practice kindness, the more they’ll notice that being nice to others feels great!

Tap into the power of kindness with these purposeful activities:

1. Call relatives to say you are thinking of them and ask about their day.

2. Help a family member with a household chore.

3. Write down three people you are grateful for and why then tell them.

4. Give a sincere compliment to five different people.

5. Tell your teacher why he or she does a great job.

6. Pick flowers and give them to someone you love.

7. Help a neighbor with an errand.

8. Find a funny joke or think of something that makes you laugh, then share it with three other people in person, on the phone, or in a video chat.

9. Donate items to a clothing or toy drive.

10. Tell a family member you love them.

11. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself three things you like about yourself.

12. Make a point of smiling at everyone you see today.

13. Create a piece of art and share it with someone you love.

14. Plant something.

15. Tell a friend or family member why they are special to you.

16. Give someone a special handmade gift.

17. Learn something new today, then share it with a friend or family member.

18. Give a thank you note to someone who probably doesn’t hear “thank you” often enough.

19. Notice five beautiful things, then tell someone about them.

20. Call a friend you haven’t seen in a while to say hello.

Being kind is a simple way to live a happier, healthier life that creates positive change in the world.