Christmas Kindness Cards for Kids: Simple Acts of Kindness

Download the free printable cards

How can children practise kindness and gratitude at Christmas?

Here are more than twenty concrete kind acts and thank you ideas to match the cards. Pick one a day, tick it off, then chat about it together.

Kind acts at home

1. Help lay the table for a family meal
2. Make a warm drink for someone who looks tired
3. Tidy a shared space without being asked
4. Read a story to a younger brother, sister or cousin
5. Let someone else choose the film tonight
6. Help carry in the shopping
7. Feed or walk a pet with a grown-up
8. Fold a load of washing and put it away
9. Wrap a small gift for someone in the family

Kind acts for others

1. Post a card to a grandparent or older neighbour
2. Save and sort toys to donate to a charity shop
3. Pick tins for a food bank collection with a grown-up
4. Hold the door open and smile at people
5. Say good morning to the postie or lollipop person
6. Draw a cheerful picture for someone who is poorly
7. Share your snack with a friend at playtime
8. Help a classmate who is stuck with their work
9. Pick up litter in the garden, wearing gloves

Thank you and gratitude notes

1. Write a thank you note for a present you received
2. Tell a teacher one thing you enjoyed this term
3. List three things you are grateful for today
4. Say thank you to the person who cooked dinner
5. Write a kind note and hide it for someone to find
6. Thank a bus driver or shop worker out loud
7. Draw a 'thank you' card for a family helper
8. Tell a friend one thing you like about them
9. Name one good thing that happened this week

How to use the kindness cards, step by step

1. Print the cards and cut them out with help.
2. Read through the kind acts together.
3. Choose one act to do each day.
4. Tick it off once it is done.
5. Talk about how it felt and who it helped.

Ways to use the kindness cards

• Make it an advent habit. Pin the cards up and pick one kind act each morning in December. A short routine builds the habit without feeling like a chore.
• Turn it into a family game. Draw a card at random each evening and race to complete it before bed. A relaxed round of Snakes and Ladders and Ludo afterwards keeps everyone together at the table.
• Use it in the classroom. Give each child a card and share back at the end of the day. Talking it through helps the whole class notice small kindnesses.
• Pair it with a thank you craft. After the thank you act, make a proper card to post. A craft set like the paint pens makes the note feel special.
• Keep a gratitude jar. Write one thing you are grateful for each day and drop it in a jar. Read them all out on Christmas Eve.

Games and gifts for ages 7 and up

Kindness is easy to practise over a shared game, so here are some family favourites to play together this Christmas. Each one gives children a reason to take turns, be patient and cheer others on.

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Classic Board Game - Snakes and Ladders & LudoShop nowWooden Game - Shut The BoxShop nowDominoes Set- Double Six DominoesShop nowScavenger Hunt GameShop nowPaint PensShop nowMarble Art SetShop nowRainbow Scratch Paper - Scratch Art PadShop nowArt Set - Sketch Drawing PencilsShop nowMancala Game - Luxury Warra SetShop nowFour in a Row - Counting Game for KidsShop nowWooden Family Games SetShop nowCode Breaking Board Game - Logic GamesShop nowFolding Draughts Set - 12" Board & PiecesShop nowGiant Playing CardsShop now

Kindness and gratitude by age and key stage

What children learn from kindness cards

• Empathy. Doing kind acts helps children notice how others feel and why small gestures matter.
• Gratitude. Naming what they are thankful for builds a habit of noticing the good things.
• Writing. Thank you notes give real, purposeful practice at putting feelings into words.
• Responsibility. Ticking off daily acts supports independence and follow through.
• Reflection. Talking about how an act felt supports self awareness and kind thinking.

More free Christmas printables

Every one is free to print, and each has its own guide.

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Christmas Story Starter CardsFree printableChristmas Charades CardsFree printableChristmas Maths MysteryFree printableChristmas Eve Box PlannerFree printableColour-In Christmas Gift TagsFree printableElf Mischief IdeasFree printableReindeer Food RecipeFree printableChristmas BingoFree printableChristmas Scavenger HuntFree printableRainy Day Mini OlympicsFree printableRainy Day Box City ChallengeFree printableRainy Day Comic Strip MakerFree printableRainy Day Escape RoomFree printableDesign a Board GameFree printable

Make it a Christmas tradition

Kindness grows when it becomes part of the everyday, not just a one off at Christmas. Try to do one kind act together each day and chat about it at dinner or bedtime. Over time, children start spotting chances to help without being asked. Keep the cards and bring them out again next December, and you will see how much has become second nature.

Frequently asked questions

What age are the Christmas kindness cards for?

They suit ages 7 and up, which is Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6), with a grown-up on hand for the bigger jobs.

How do we use the kindness cards in the run up to Christmas?

Choose one kind act each day, tick it off, then talk about how it felt and who it helped.

Do I need any special materials?

Just the printable, a pen and scissors with help. A craft set is handy if you want to make proper thank you cards too.

Can the whole class use these?

Yes. Give each child a card and share back at the end of the day so everyone notices small kindnesses.

How many kind acts are there?

There are ten acts to tick off, plus a thank you note to write. You can repeat favourites or add your own.

Can younger children join in?

Younger brothers and sisters can do the simpler acts alongside, with a grown-up helping with any writing or scissors.

What if my child finds thank you notes tricky?

Start them off with a sentence frame, like 'Thank you for ... I liked it because ...'. Drawing a picture counts too.

What can we play together after a kind act?

A quick family game works well. See the gift ideas above for board games and craft sets that suit ages 7 and up.

Browse by age and type

Family gamesBoard gamesCraft sets for kidsArts and crafts setsGifts for kidsEducational toys for 6 to 8 year oldsTraditional gamesWooden games

Jaques of London is Britain's oldest toy and games company, founded in 1795. We have spent over 230 years making games families play together, from chess and croquet to wooden toys for the very young.

Kids' Activities by Age | All free printable activities

Written by the Jaques of London team. Last updated 1 November 2026.