A few years ago my Kids in Service group made Seeds of Kindness. After reading the book, Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson, I was inspired to find a simple way for the kids in my group to start their own Pay it Forward project.
Each family was given this cute little smile bag that I found on Oriental Trading and some emoji magnets (also from Oriental Trading). The kids made happy pictures with uplifting messages on them, “You are Special!” “Thanks for Being YOU!” and enclosed the magnet inside of their folded up picture. They were then encouraged to pass out their Seeds of Kindness to the people that they encountered over the summer.
Will you and your family accept this mission of KINDNESS?
Your Mission: Create simple Seeds of Kindness to help brighten the day of the people you meet when you are out and about in the world.
Supplies: paper, drawing materials, a bag to hold the Seeds of Kindness so you can take them on the go (a ziplock works great).
Optional Supplies: fun magnets, a dollar scratch ticket, single stemmed flowers, a happy eraser, a pretty stone, $5 gift card for a coffee (the possibilities are endless).
Procedure: Work as a family to create happy and uplifting drawings. Everyone who can hold a crayon without eating it can participate in this part! Write uplifting messages on the drawings (You are Special, You are One of a Kind, Thanks for Being You, You are going a Great Job, Thanks for Being a Light in this World, Thanks for your Smiles etc.). Fold up the drawings into small squares (“seeds”) and put them in a bag of your choice so you can take them with you on the go.
Optional: Add a fun magnet, a dollar scratch ticket, a flower a happy eraser, a pretty stone or a $5 gift card for coffee or lunch to the seeds.
Keep the Seeds of Kindness with you in the car or while you are on the go and when you see someone who has gone above and beyond or someone who looks like they could use a pick me up, give them a Seed of Kindness. Perhaps the mailman looks a little blue, the woman at the checkout was extra friendly or a mom with screaming children looks like she could use some kindness. These Seeds of Kindness are meant to be spread around and given to EVERYONE. My family loves to give them to the toll attendants (along with a $5 gift card at the Holidays) and their reactions are alway priceless.
Kids in Service 