Acts of Kindness
Acts of kindness have an amazing effect on our health. Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer.
World Kindness Day is a great excuse to partake in random acts of kindness and this is celebrated annually on 13 November. On this day, participants attempt to make the world a better place by celebrating and promoting good deeds and pledging acts of kindness, either as individuals or as organisations.
World Kindness Day was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of nations’ kindness NGOs. It is observed in many countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Nigeria and United Arab Emirates. Singapore observed the day for the first time in 2009.
Being in lockdown is going to physically challenge being kind to people outside of the home so we are sharing a kindness bingo game that you can play at home. We have geared it to children as although they understand the concept of being kind they sometimes they have difficulty knowing how to put the concept into action. You could also play a grown-up version of it with your flatmates or your partner!
Happy World Kindness Day!
Acts of Kindness Bingo
What you need: paper, pencils, crayons or markers; bingo stampers or highlighters.
What to do:
Make a grid on a piece of paper. Make as many squares as you wish but sixteen or twenty-five work well. For very small children, nine squares help to achieve a “Bingo” a little more quickly.
The children can decorate the Bingo sheet with images that come to mind when they think about kindness (hearts, rainbows, helping hands).
In each Bingo square, write an act of kindness. Get your kids involved and encourage them to think up ways to be kind Leave a square or two blanks for spontaneous acts of kindness that aren’t specified on the Bingo sheet.
Make, decorate and cut out small hearts. Then, stick the hearts onto the Bingo board when the children complete the acts of kindness. You could also stamp the square with a Bingo stamper or highlight it if you prefer.
When the Bingo square is complete reward your children in some way. Have a pizza and movie night, a half-hour later bedtime, or some other treat that they have been wanting for a while
ACTS OF KINDNESS BINGO
