It’s the final week of the 100 Acts of Kindness Project! This week we are focusing on doing acts of kindness in the world around us. We love getting books from the library so decided to spread some kindness to a stranger with a library book note!
We’ve written library letters before and there is something about the idea of leaving a note in a book you’ve loved for a stranger to find that is so much fun.
Making your own library book note is super easy! I cut out a bunch of heart shapes for the kids and they wrote and drew on them. Then we stuck them inside a book and returned it to the library for someone to find.
Use common sense when creating your library love notes and make sure not to add anything to the notes that may stick to or damage the book you are leaving it in. Keeping the book you love in great condition for the next person to read is very important!
Doing an act of kindness for someone that will never know that it came from you is good practice for kids. Part of the fun of doing acts of kindness is seeing how happy it makes someone else and having them thank you. Secret acts of kindness for strangers teaches kids to do good without the expectation of gratitude.
Your challenge for this week is to participate in International Book Giving Day and give a book to a child that you do not know. There are many ways you can do this—leave one in a hospital waiting room, donate one to a homeless shelter or school, or donate to an organization that provides books to kids around the world.
Acts of Kindness for the World Ideas:
Kristina and I are so excited to have some inspiring bloggers join us in sharing acts of kindness ideas for the 100 Acts of Kindness Project!
- Chelsea from Moments a Day is sharing 10 Acts of Love for the World.
- Jennifer from The Good Long Road has Helping the Hungry Across the World.
- Kristina from Toddler Approved is doing good in the world too.
- For even more ideas follow my Acts of Kindness for Kids {and You!} Pinterest board!
What a gorgeous idea and so easy, yet so meaningful. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Thanks Chelsea! I’m so glad you are joining in this week!
This idea I love!
Your boys would love it!
So cute!
Thanks Shaunna!
Great idea!
It is fun!
ohh this is such a qute idea.. sharing
Glad you like it Playtivities!!!
Absolutely love this idea!
Thank you!!!
Great idea for Valentine’s Day!
Yes! Thanks Mrs. Judd’s Games!!!
So fun!!
Thank you for posting this great idea! Today was the initial meeting of the Kindness Club at my school, and I used your idea as our very first activity ever! It was a hit, as you can see in the photos I posted just now on my blog. 🙂 The kids LOVED dashing around the library on a covert mission to spread kindness. They can’t wait for next week!
http://katestrother.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/kindness-club-week-1/
YAY!!!! That is fantastic!!! I am so happy that you shared that with me! 🙂
Megan: I just had to express to you how grateful I am that you have put so much work into your website. It brightens my day when your newsletter arrives in my box. Today was exactly what I needed when I needed it. I was trying to think of a Christmas spirit activity to do with my afterschool kids at the library-without being a “Christmas” activity, as we have a few children who do not celebrate-these kindness notes in library books will be perfect. I can’t wait!!! I know the kids will be very excited.
Thank you and take care,
Eleanor
Yay Eleanor!!!! They will have so much fun!!!! 🙂
This is so nice and so well intentioned, but please don’t encourage putting things inside library books!
Why not? Not everyone is as careful and as nice as you.
1) CARELESSNESS: If someone uses glue, crayon, or ink on their letter, it could get on the pages of the book and ruin it.
2) GRAFFITI: We don’t want people to even get the IDEA in their head of leaving notes in library books. Yours was very nice, but someone else may see it as a new way to shock an unaware reader by either writing rude comments on YOUR note, or hiding their own inappropriate material in the pages of a book.
3) UNWANTED ADVERTISING: Some people may see this as a new way to push their business, religion, political group or social topic. We want the only message in the book to be the message provided by the AUTHOR of the book.
4) MORE WORK FOR STAFF- If a shelver or check-in processor finds a note in a book, it is probably their job to remove it and throw it away. So it’s basically creating extra work for staff.