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Secret Kindness Mission

Child plans and carries out a small anonymous kind act for someone in the household and reflects on how it felt.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home doing Secret Kindness Mission.
  • Age6 to 10 years
  • Time15 to 30 minutes
  • EnergyCalm
  • CostFree
  • WhereIndoors
  • PrepNone

Your child plans a small kind surprise for someone else in the household and carries it out with you in on the plan, then talks with you afterwards about how it felt to do something nice for someone.

How to do it

  1. Sit with your child and plan the kind surprise together, so you always know what they are up to.
  2. Help them pick one small kind act for another person in the home, such as tidying a shared space or leaving a friendly drawing.
  3. Agree that the fun part is surprising the person who receives it, while you as the caregiver stay in the loop the whole time.
  4. Support your child in carrying out the act, staying nearby and aware of what they are doing.
  5. Afterwards, talk together about how it felt to do it and how the other person reacted to the surprise.

What you need

  • Optional craft supplies

Signs it is working

Your child picks a kind act on their own once given a few ideas. They enjoy planning the surprise for the receiver with you alongside. Afterwards they can say something about how it felt or how the other person reacted

If it is not quite clicking

Child cannot think of a kind act: Offer two or three specific ideas to choose from. Child wants to keep the plan hidden from you: Gently explain that you always stay part of the plan and that the surprise is only for the person receiving it. The receiver does not notice: Help your child tell them about it so the kindness still lands

Make it yours

Younger (5-6y): Keep the act very simple, like a friendly drawing left on someone's chair. Older (8-10y): Let them plan a small surprise that takes a little effort, such as setting up part of a shared activity for a sibling. Siblings: Children can plan a kind surprise together for a third family member, with you in on the plan

Try this with your child.

Tell PLAI™ about your child and this moment. It shapes the activity to fit.

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