Deena and I joined the Random Acts of Kindness movement a while ago and ever since have continued to share some of the posts from the website. The great news is it seems that many others have jumped on board with this movement as well (not as much our doing as it is the doing of so many others at spreading the word). In fact, I have heard so much about Random Acts of Kindness lately that it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Recently my friend and neighbor, Ashley, mentioned she was going to change up her kids’ Advent calendar this year to include these Random Acts of Christmas Kindness (RACK). So this whole idea is not my own, but instead I jumped on the coat tails of my friend as well as the coat tails of strangers I found on Pinterest who are doing the same thing.
FIRST, I had to make an Advent calendar. There is nothing religious about my design (although some may feel very religious about candy):
However, this far exceeds last year’s countdown to Christmas which was made from scrapbook paper, could barely hold a piece of chocolate, and started falling apart before Christmas even got here. No, this year I upgraded. This year I used toilet paper rolls. Ta-da!
Oh yeah, only the best for my family. Now before you get all grossed out, I only used toilet paper rolls from our own bathrooms (I did not ask for donations). So if the TP rolls are funky, it’s our own funk and not someone else’s, of course.
Also, if you look closely, my countdown only goes up to the 21st. Come on family, use the bathroom more often already!! Maybe I will make beans for dinner tonight, and tomorrow for lunch, and dinner again, until I get 3 more toilet paper rolls.
Anyway, I had a huge list of RACK ideas from my friend, Pinterest and the Random Act of Kindness website, but the hardest part was organizing the list by day. I had to take into account all of our schedules and spent a lot of time writing and re-writing my list. I have shared my list below for anyone who wants ideas for now or in the future for any reason whatsoever.
I’m really excited to see how my kids react to this and even more excited to see how much they will learn from this experience. I don’t think kids are ever too young to learn the power of kindness, the satisfaction of giving and the pride that comes with making someone smile.
So get RACKing!
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Angela’s kids’ Advent calendar RACK list:
Thursday, Dec 1 – Write thank you notes to your teachers
Friday, Dec 2 – Bring neighbors’ trash cans from the curb to garage doors
Saturday, Dec 3 – Call grandparents and tell them that you love them
Sunday, Dec 4 – Bring Christmas tree tag gift card to church
Monday, Dec 5 – Donate needed items to the local homeless shelter
Tuesday, Dec 6 – Donate toys to Toys 4 Tots
Wednesday, Dec 7 – Go to library and pay overdue fees for 5 people and while there, put dollar bills in some of your favorite books
Thursday, Dec 8 – Count your blessings and write them down
Friday, Dec 9 – Tape microwave popcorn to Redbox machine
Saturday, Dec 10 – Pick up trash/litter anytime you see it today
Sunday, Dec 11 – Put a candy cane on 10 cars in the neighborhood
Monday, Dec 12 – Write a thank you note for the crossing guard at school
Tuesday, Dec 13 – Bring care packages to carline helpers
Wednesday, Dec 14 – Leave treats on 3 neighbors’ porches
Thursday, Dec 15 – Bring treats to CCD teacher and office staff
Friday, Dec 16 – Deliver towels/blankets to animal shelter
Saturday, Dec 17 – Donate coloring books, crayons and magazines to hospital waiting room
Sunday, Dec 18 – Bring $1 from piggy bank to church to put in the collection basket
Monday, Dec 19 – Help organize toys for the Salvation Army
Tuesday, Dec 20 – Help organize toys for the Salvation Army
Wednesday, Dec 21 – Deliver treats to local fire department
Thursday, Dec 22 – Leave treats in mailbox for mailman
Friday, Dec 23 – Leave treats out for trash collectors
Saturday, Dec 24 – Enjoy Christmas with people you love and sing happy birthday to Jesus
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UPDATE: Merely FIVE minutes after I wrote this article, I find this in the bathroom:
Seriously family?? I only said in huge, bold, bubble letters to NOT throw out any toilet paper rolls. Sheesh.