Is there more to kindness than doing something nice?

Oct 28, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jul 22

13 November is World Kindness Day, an initiative that aims to celebrate kindness in all its forms, whether at school, home or work. Being kind makes others feel good and can make the world a nicer place to be, and who doesn't want that? But there are other benefits to showing kindness, particularly to mental and physical health, so is there more to it than just being nice?

Is there more to kindness than doing something nice?

What is kindness?

First things first, what do we mean by kindness? It can mean putting others’ needs first (even above our own), but it doesn’t necessarily involve high levels of self-sacrifice. In fact, showing kindness doesn’t rely on expensive or time-consuming actions; small acts of kindness can be equally powerful. Sharing a kind word with a stranger, paying someone a compliment, and expressing appreciation are all simple ways to show kindness.

Linking kindness to skills and personal development

Here at The Parents’ Guide to, we often talk about ways teens can develop their skillsets, and skills and kindness are a winning combination. Is your teen a good listener? Maybe they can practise really listening to what someone is saying, rather than spending most of the conversation thinking about what they’ll say next. Good at cooking? They could make something home-cooked for the family to enjoy together, gift some items to friends and neighbours, or even donate bakes to raise money for good causes. Great with tech? Can they help a local charity or neighbour who is struggling?

If charity begins at home, then helping around the house is another way to show kindness and respect, while developing their ability to look after themselves. Pick up those wet towels from the floor, run the hoover around shared areas as well as their own room, stack the dishwasher and tidy the bathroom.

Linking kindness to skills and personal development

Reach out to the community

Showing kindness to the wider community is also important; our focus shouldn’t be exclusively on people we know. Giving up a seat on public transport, opening doors and letting people go first can make a huge difference to others who may be struggling due to age or ill-health, especially if this isn't immediately obvious.

Kindness extends beyond people to causes

Kindness extends beyond our interactions with others. Care about the environment? Show it by reusing grocery bags, putting your litter in bins and picking up litter you pass in the street. Air-dry clothes instead of using a dryer (this could apply to hair too), walk or cycle instead of getting a lift, donate clothes to charity or toys to a children’s hospital, buy pre-loved items, and turn off lights when leaving an empty room.

Improving your own health

Being kind doesn’t only benefit others, it’s good for your health too. It’s been shown to increase self-esteem and empathy and improve mood. The Mental Health Foundation notes that it can reduce stress, improve mental wellbeing and even help us live longer, benefiting both mental and physical health.

Strengthening relationships

Kindness is a valuable quality for teens to develop, as it helps strengthen relationships and connectedness with others. To quote the old adage, people may forget what you said and what you did, but they never forget how you made them feel. Make people feel good and they’ll want to spend more time with you, helping to expand and deepen connections, whether at home or school, personal or professional.

Gaining momentum

According to research, people who try to be kind experience more kindness, which makes them feel happier. Could it be that their own awareness of trying to treat others kindly helps them notice when others are kind to them? There’s certainly evidence to suggest that when people benefit from kindness they're more likely to go on to express it themselves, leading to ongoing, virtuous circles.

Let’s #MakeKindnessTheNorm

So let’s use Kindness Day UK to remind ourselves to be kind, not just today but every day. Need more inspiration? Find examples at kindnessuk.com or apply for the Kind School of the Year Award.