Random acts of Christmas kindness: 12 simple ways to brighten the holidays
![Random Acts of Christmas Kindness](https://ideas.hallmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Random-acts-of-Christmas-kindness-600x600.jpg)
Do you have more holiday cheer than you know what to do with? Share it! Or are you feeling a little Scrooge-y? Surprising someone with kindness will get you in the spirit of the season better than anything else. Even the smallest gesture of goodwill can mean a lot to people, especially when they aren’t expecting it. And who knows? A random act of Christmas kindness might become one of your favorite holiday memories or a family tradition to be repeated year after year.
Here are 12 easy ways to brighten someone’s day and bring more joy to the world—and our list may spark some other ideas. You can spread the goodwill on your own or with a partner or friends. Involving kids is a great way to teach them about the meaning of Christmas.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
Friends
Do you know a busy mom with young children? Offer to babysit for a few hours so she can get her Christmas shopping or other errands done. She will be forever grateful!
If you have older kids, cut paper snowflakes with them and string them into garlands with thread or fishing wire for friends of the family. They make fun decorations to hang in windows or anywhere else.
Give a friend unbaked cookies. Mix up the dough, roll it into balls, and freeze them in a container, separating layers with aluminum foil. That way, she can bake them at any time. Alternately, give her a dish of homemade lasagna for the freezer, with instructions for baking. Most people love having a homemade meal they can pop into the oven, especially during the busy holiday season.
Teachers
Kids can give teachers handwritten notes of appreciation at the holidays. If they’re too young to write, a parent can take dictation. Young ones can also draw or color a Christmas picture for their teacher or day care provider.
Teachers love gift cards! Even one for a small amount to a coffee shop, office supply store or place they can grab a quick breakfast or lunch is greatly appreciated.
Neighbors
If you’re the first one shoveling after a big snow, and you feel up to it, shovel your neighbor’s driveway or walkway, too. It’s extra exercise for you and a nice surprise for them.
Leave a tiny potted Christmas tree outside your neighbor’s door with an anonymous note wishing him or her a happy holiday.
People in homeless shelters
Some people think new socks are a boring gift. At many homeless and domestic violence shelters, however, they are some of the most needed and least often donated items! Shop for white cotton gym socks or the thick, cozy kind.
Seniors in nursing homes
Talk to the management at a nursing home to arrange a visit. They can tell you the best times to come and what the residents might appreciate. Or get inspired with our list of useful gift ideas for seniors.
Another idea is to ask the people there if you can put holiday decorations on the doors to their rooms. Many of them will appreciate the extra cheer. If you have young children, get them to color or paint Christmas pictures—the more colorful, the better!
Fellow shoppers
If you and another driver have your eyes on the same parking space, let her have it. And if a shopper seems frazzled or has impatient kids in tow, let him go ahead of you in line.
Workers on Christmas
Not everyone has the day off. Hospitals, some restaurants, many convenience stores and drugstores, and most movie theaters are up and running. For these instances, put together a few little gift bags with cookies or candy, or holiday cards with a $5 gift card to a coffee shop inside. Then, give them to unsuspecting people on the job. It’s especially fun for kids to participate in this activity. Regardless of whether the person celebrates Christmas, you’ll make her day.
Shop Christmas
See allYou may also like
See more-
Christmas Sweet dreams, Santa!
Catch Santa napping on the job with this Snoring Santa Keepsake Ornament featuring sound and motion. With every snore...
-
Kwanzaa What is Kwanzaa?
What is Kwanzaa? A festival of lights rich in African symbolism, it takes place each year from December 26th through ...
-
Christmas Advent calendar activities for adventurous families
It’s time to start the countdown. Maybe it’s about being mindful…or counting your blessings…or preempting your kids a...
-
Summer Ways to celebrate Juneteenth
While Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, this pivotal moment in history has been cele...
-
Christmas Christmas and Kwanzaa: Keeping family holiday traditions and finding your own
Whether you’re single or starting a family, religious or agnostic, someone who celebrates Christmas and Kwanzaa or ju...
-
Halloween Make ghosts and goblins feel right at home this Halloween
Light up your home with haunting Halloween seasonal decor. 🎃👻 Shop now at Hallmark Gold Crown stores or at Hallmark.com.
-
Halloween No scaredy cats around here!
When this black cat crosses your path, you know fun can't be far behind. 😻 🧙♀️ Shop the Zip-A-Long Cat in Hallmark G...
-
Halloween While you’re waiting for The Great Pumpkin this Halloween…
Fly around the pumpkin patch with Zip-a-long Snoopy! 🎃 Shop more frightening finds in Hallmark Gold Crown stores and ...
-
Halloween Light up the night with frightful fun!
Could it be? Could it be!? Yes it is! It’s the Peanuts® Snoopy and Woodstock Halloween figurine! 🎃 🐶 Find it and more...
-
Halloween Where cozy meets mischief and magic
Make some magic this Halloween with this Hocus Pocus hooded blanket. 🧙♀️👻Find more Halloween essentials in Hallmark ...
-
Gifting Relive a favorite from your childhood!
Fill your home with a few small joys inspired by Disney’s “It’s a Small World” 🩵🎎 Shop the collection at Hallmark Gol...
-
Halloween Which house will you be sorted into?
The Harry Potter™ Sorting Hat™ Mug plays sound whenever you lift the lid. Find this chatty mug in Hallmark Gold Crown...
-
Encouragement How to support caregivers
It’s often hard to know how to support a caregiver. Most caregiving checklists out there hit the major topics like me...
-
Love 50 different ways to say I love you
You don’t need to wait for a special occasion to remind that certain someone how much he or she is loved. Spice up yo...
-
Graduation 15 graduation quotes
Celebrate your favorite grad’s milestone with the wit and wisdom of Hallmark writers, fans and others. We’ve rounded ...
-
Congratulations How to congratulate someone
Congratulating others is easy and fun, right? Like when your friend worked really hard and got that awesome job makin...
-
Care & Concern Be more caring with a kindness journal
It's obvious the world could use more kindness. So this year, why not make "be more caring" your number one resolutio...
-
Fall Día de Muertos: A celebration of life and love
Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead, is a holiday originally celebrated in the southern and central parts of Mexico and i...
-
Card Ideas Card messages for kids: What to write in a kid’s holiday card and more
My 3-year-old was having a hard time at preschool drop-off. Dragging his feet. Asking to stay home. This went on a fe...
-
Christmas 6 Creative Christmas Card Display Ideas
Holiday card season is here: Our mailboxes are about to fill up with festive envelopes with pretty stamps and familia...