5 Ways to Spread Kindness in the Classroom this Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to cultivate a spirit of kindness and generosity in the classroom. Teaching students the importance of empathy and compassion not only enhances their social skills but also contributes to a positive and supportive learning environment. Here are five easy, engaging ways to encourage kindness in your classroom this holiday season.

1. Community Service Project:

Organize a community service project that allows students to give back. This could be collecting non-perishable food items for a local food bank, creating care packages for the homeless, or writing holiday cards for senior citizens at a local nursing home. Involve your students in the planning process to promote ownership and investment in the project. Discuss the importance of helping others and how their actions can make a difference in the community. This hands-on experience fosters empathy and reinforces the idea that kindness can have a profound impact. If you would like an editable template for families to get you started, check out my Elfie Selfie Holiday Cheer Pack | Encouraging Kindness During the Holidays

2. Classroom CHEER Challenge

Launch a Classroom CHEER Challenge during the holiday season. As teachers, we are always looking for ways to increase kindness and help our students become the best version of themselves. For this reason, I created the Elfie Selfie Holiday Cheer Pack to help teachers achieve this task during the holiday season in a FUN and MEANINGFUL way! It includes ideas like making a Holiday Cheer Anchor Chart for brainstorming kind acts at school ( C -> Compliment three people today, H -> Help someone around you, E -> Eat with someone new). It also includes photo props, CHEER cards, and Reward Tags to encourage and highlight when your students are demonstrating cheer and kindness. You can read more about it HERE.

3. Warm Fuzzies

Add a simple and tangible way to show your students you notice them showing kindness! When your students do something to make someone feel warm and fuzzy inside, using kindness strategies you’ve come up with together, give them a Warm & Fuzzy! You can keep some in your pocket and use them throughout the holiday season. Students can collect their warm and fuzzies to take home and share with their families how they helped bring kindness to others. Grab this FREE label in my TPT store.

4. Kindness Jar

Introduce a Kindness Jar in your classroom where students can share acts of kindness that others have done for them. Provide slips of paper for students to write down their experiences and place them in the jar. Encourage students to be specific about the kind acts they’ve received and how those actions made them feel. This can be done anonymously if preferred. Gather the class together for morning meeting or at the end of each day and read a few of the notes aloud. This not only fosters a culture of gratitude but also highlights the impact of kindness on individuals, reinforcing the importance of recognizing and appreciating the good in others.

Check out “Kindness Snippet Jar” by Diane Alber if you’re looking for a fun way to introduce this concept to your class!

5. Intentional Read Alouds

Choose read alouds this holiday season that highlight kindness, empathy, and compassion. Here are a few of my favorite read alouds, some holiday themed and some are year-round, that promote kindness and help you get the conversation started!

1. “An Invisible Thread Christmas Story” by Laura Schroff – From the bestselling author of An Invisible Thread comes this true and extraordinary story of how one woman’s decision to help a boy on the street changed both of their lives!
2. “A Christmas Spider’s Miracle” by Trinka Hakes Noble – Based on a Ukrainian tradition, the spider’s actions demonstrate how even the smallest creatures can make a big difference in someone’s life. This emphasizes the importance of helping others, regardless of one’s size or status. A great addition if you are teaching about holiday traditions around the world!
3. “Bear Stays Up for Christmas” by Karma Wilson – One of my favorite authors, this is a heartwarming story that celebrates the joy of friendship during the holiday season as Bear helps his friends prepare for Christmas, demonstrating the joy that comes from working together and supporting one another.
4. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” by Dr. Seuss – This classic story teaches valuable lessons about the true meaning of Christmas, kindness, and the transformative power of empathy as the Grinch learns to embrace the holiday spirit.
5. “A Little Spot of Empathy” by Diane Alber – The world could use a little more empathy and this little SPOT is showing how easy it is to see things from another person’s perspective and show kindness! I love ALL of the SPOT books and have used them in my advocacy center with much success.
6. “The Kindness Book” by Todd Parr – This colorful book illustrates the many ways to show kindness, from sharing to helping others, and emphasizes that kindness can come in many forms.
7. “The Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig – This touching story follows a boy who feels invisible at school until a new student arrives and shows him kindness, highlighting the importance of inclusion and friendship.
8. “The Jelly Donut Difference: Sharing Kindness with the World” by Maria Dismondy – This story focuses on two siblings who learn about the importance of sharing and kindness through a simple act of giving jelly donuts to their neighbors.
9. “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio – While more of a middle-grade novel, “Wonder” tells the story of a boy with facial differences who navigates school and friendships. It teaches readers about empathy, kindness, and acceptance.
10. “Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids” by Carol McCloud – This book uses the metaphor of a bucket to teach children about the importance of kindness and how their actions can affect the happiness of themselves and others.

Encouraging kindness in the classroom during the holiday season is essential for fostering a positive, inclusive environment. By implementing intentional activities you can inspire your students to embrace empathy and generosity, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the classroom. As we celebrate this special time of year, let’s work together to make kindness a central theme in our learning community. Happy holidays!

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