Kindness makes everybody's world better

Feb 15, 2025
5 min read

Updated: Jul 22

17 February is Random Acts of Kindness Day, celebrating kindness in all its forms, whether at school, home or work.

One of the ways we can make the world a better place is to be kind to one another. It's something everyone can do, it's often free, and we can weave kindness into every day of our lives without having to work too hard at it.

Being kind makes others feel good, which makes us feel good too; it's a win-win way of living. There's scientific evidence backing up the health benefits for people who regularly do things for others.

Let's look at why kindness should be a priority for all of us, how it specifically benefits teens, and how we can all show kindness to others.

What is kindness?

First things first, what do we mean by kindness? It can include putting other people’s needs above our own, but it doesn’t necessarily involve high levels of self-sacrifice. Showing kindness doesn’t rely on expensive or time-consuming actions; small acts 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.

Kindness at home

A great place for your teen to start is at home, which should benefit everyone in the household by creating a more harmonious place to live. Like many things in life, kick off with what they're already good at and build from there.

Is your teen a good listener? Maybe they can practise really listening to what their friends or family are saying, rather than spending most of the conversation thinking about what they want to say next. Too many of us only hear the first part of what people say because we spend the rest of the time working out how to reply. It's frustrating to feel unheard, and paying attention to listening is a good way to improve communication skills.

Can they cook? How about making something home-cooked for the family to enjoy together, such as snacks for a film night, a weekend lunch or an evening meal? Could they gift something they've cooked to friends and neighbours, or donate bakes to raise money for good causes?

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. Being thoughtful towards others is a fundamental form of kindness, and a great tool for self-development too.

Reach out to the community

Showing kindness to the wider community is also important; their focus shouldn’t be exclusively on people they 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. Random acts of kindness for strangers can give especially powerful feel-good vibes too.

Perhaps your teen's a tech wizard (what teen isn't?). Can they help a local charity or neighbour who is struggling? This might involve developing a website, designing flyers for a campaign, sorting things online, raising awareness through social media, or even working out how to use a smart TV or Alexa.

If they want to do more on a regular basis, could they link up with a charity to visit a lonely neighbour, do some dog walking for someone less able, help deliver groceries, donate clothes, food or blankets to a local shelter, or give some time to running a local scouts or guides club?

Kindness extends beyond people to causes

Kindness extends beyond interactions with others. Do they claim to care about the environment? Are they showing it by reusing grocery bags, putting litter in bins and picking up litter they pass in the street? Do they air-dry clothes instead of using a dryer (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?

These small initiatives add up to lifestyle habits that embody living well, both personally and as part of the community.

Improving their own health

Being kind doesn’t only benefit others, it’s good for their own 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 also strengthens 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 expand and deepen connections, whether at home or school, personal or professional.

Developing skills and character

When it comes to moving onto the next stage of their career path, many interviewers look at what teens do outside the classroom to differentiate applicants who might all have similar academic qualifications. Demonstrating values and skills needs examples, and many of the suggestions in this article can help evidence what makes them stand out, what they're good at, and how they put their skills into practice. Some will also give them first-hand insight into possible career paths that aren't explored in depth at school. By giving to others, they could be giving back to themselves.

Gaining momentum

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

Let’s make kindness the norm

So let’s use Random Acts of Kindness Day to remind ourselves to be kind, not just today but every day. Need more inspiration? Find examples at the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

Protecting mental wellbeing

You can’t stop your teen experiencing stress, but you can help them develop systems to deal with it more effectively. Find out how in The Parents' Guide to Teenage Stress and Anxiety.

Expanding their interests

Make sure your teen develops their character and skillsets through their hobbies, because this will matter when they're interviewing to progress along their chosen career path. Explore suggestions of activities they'll enjoy and the skills they'll develop in The Parents' Guide to Developing Skills and Character.