r/randomactsofkindness • u/Adventurous_Hour5148 • 1d ago
Activity Random acts of kindness for a child. Ideas needed!
Hello!
My daughter had a life saving transplant almost two years ago. Last year we did a be the match party honoring her donor and their family. I want to get in the habit of each year celebrating her transplant day through giving back to others. My daughter is a toddler and we try having conversations regularly about caring for her body and being kind to everyone.
I need help with ideas for this year. I want her to give something to people or have her be the one initiating something and keeping that transition going. I was thinking of picking two random people (because this is anniversary year 2) and giving them a small fun basket or something. But I really don’t know if that’s a good idea or if it’s a little weird. I am stumped on ideas and welcome any ideas that could be a tradition.
Edit: These ideas are absolutely amazing. Thank you for all of them! I think that I’m going to turn this into an all day event. It’s worth it to spread joy and honor her donor. From little ideas to big ones, these are absolutely amazing. Thank you everyone for helping me create a tradition to honor my daughter’s donor.
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u/Skinnybet 1d ago
I gave my sister my kidney. Every year on the anniversary of our transplant we celebrate this. We call it our transplantaversary. Kind of like a birthday for the kidney. Raising awareness of transplants is something that I’m passionate about. Telling her story is a good idea.
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u/m0untaingoat 1d ago
Once we had just gone to the thrift store and my son scored a big ziplock bag of little dinosaur toys. Then we went to our favorite beach on the lake for a picnic. We walked around afterwards and he hid a whole bunch of little dinosaurs where kids could find them, and talked about how fun it is to find a toy on the beach. So we do that kind of thing when we need an act of kindness :)
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u/StereoPoet 1d ago
Love this
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u/Superb_Drop1313 1d ago
Please don't litter beaches with plastic waste. Leave no trace is a good rule in nature. If you want to leave toys places there are infinite human spaces for your litter: libraries, malls, schools....... Leave nature alone especially with plastic
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u/natattack410 17h ago
I agree with this. Also write a fun note on bottom that says "you found me! I am now yours!"
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u/Brief-Swimming5372 1d ago
Leave a small toy or book in a public “little library” box
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u/Global_Loss6139 1d ago
Yep. Came to say put a copy of your favorite books or some of your older books in your LFL!
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u/DenseSir 1d ago
Donation to a children's hospital.
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u/EtsyCorn 1d ago
We did this with a lemonade stand a while ago. If you ask the hospital, they will give official little banner.
It was a fun few days!
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u/Zivata 1d ago edited 18h ago
A two year old might enjoy something smaller. Like going to the playground and giving out stickers. Lots of feedback, people smiling and thanking her. Very positive reaction, frequency of the positive is high. Just seems more engaging and fun for a 2year old.
ETA you could change it as she gets older. The tradition day stays the same, but as she understands better why you could me make it more
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u/Tasty-Mall8577 1d ago
We have people who write & draw on large pebbles & just leave them on doorsteps or roadsides - Amazon sells sets of paint pens that don’t fade & you can both have fun making people smile!
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u/effiebaby 1d ago
Perhaps OP can get stones and the paint pens. Attendees can paint an "awareness" stone to be placed at a place of their choice.
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u/IamLuann 1d ago
Make a gift basket with little toys and take it to the nurses station at a children's ward of a hospital. Tell the nurses what they are for and please pass them out to the kids.
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u/farting_buffalo 1d ago
Take her shopping for dog and cat food and donate to an animal shelter or rescue
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u/Intentoatmeal 1d ago
Honestly just sharing her story on a little card handed out by her to others with her cute little self would make me start weeping happy tears. Maybe include a message about making the most of each moment or day and a flower or candy
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u/Emotional_Bonus_934 1d ago
Little ducks or hello kitty's or something hidden around would be fun.
You could get little gift bags at dollar tree and find a few dollar tree toys and treats to put in them. There are cute little toys and a little gift bag would be fun.
Or visit the hospital she was in and bring little gifts for the children. I know you're thinking of the number of years but the children in the hospital might be a good choice.
I remember reading about a teacher in the NYT long ago, who taught in a very poor neighborhood. Her students wanted to do something to help the poor; she wondered who could be more poor. Children in the hospital. They wanted to do something for children in the hospital.
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u/peaspleasequackquack 1d ago
You may be able to take a shelter dog out for a day of fun. Retirement home residents love getting pastries or other goodies. Our local meals-on-wheels delivers foods to needy senior citizens and will take your donation of aluminum can recycling. If you can knit or sew, oncology wards at your local hospitals take homemade caps or blankets. One thing I found particularly heartwarming recently was a sidewalk chalk drawing from some elementary students with some sweet messages for their friends and teachers. Awesome idea you had and best wishes to your daughter.
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u/StereoPoet 1d ago
I love the ideas given. Here, honestly I would say any kindness you share is beautiful and not weird. There are a lot of children in need, including in hospitals. I am sure there are lots of ways to get gifts or cards for those children. My kids and I always make cards to send to the children's hospitals. They draw pictures and put stickers and things in them to give other kiddos a pick me up. The thought and action you are putting into guiding her in gratitude and compassion is very admirable. I applaud you, truly I do. May your family be blessed, always.
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u/kyothinks 1d ago
Not sure what this has to do with the OP here--did you mean to put this somewhere else?
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u/Daisy-DuBois 1d ago
This may be an idea for down the road. Go out to lunch or dinner. Randomly buy a meal for someone there and tell the waiter you want to remain anonymous. Give the waiter a card and in the card explain how you’re honoring your daughter and the donor family.
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u/Main_Ant_1981 1d ago
Maybe try to find a family in need / or go donate food to a local animal shelter.
Leaving toys would be fun too.
The shoe box drive during Xmas is also fun!
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u/-CAW-CAW-CAW- 1d ago
Some ideas: Buy $50 worth of $5 Starbucks/Dunkin cards and distribute them randomly. Ask for kids books/pet food/ etc in lieu of bday gifts and donate to a homeless or pet shelter (when we did this, we as parents got the gifts she wanted and she was able to give the donation from her friends) Buy a dozen roses and give one to people randomly.
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u/sugarshizzl 1d ago
There’s a group where I live that paints rocks with inspirational quotes on them and then they leave them around town.
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u/Different-Road-0213 1d ago
Remember, siblings of sick kids get overlooked. Hospitals take donations of new toys. Generally, you should communicate with their donation coordinator. Ronald Mcdonald houses take new toys at the front desk. Can she be a part of zoom calls or gift delivery to thank hospital people or encourage kids on the waiting list? Can you start a go fund me for a toy drive to expand the number of toys she delivers.
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u/Just_Peachy_me 1d ago
Angel trees at Christmas, backpack drives when school starts, or learning a craft like crochet or knitting to donate item groups like Knots of Love care future ideas for when they're old. You could start with you doing most of the work and them help at an age appropriate level as time passes.
When I was a kid my Mom would take us to get an angel from the tree. She used it as a way to teach us how to still give even if you have a small budget when I was about 11-14. I still get angel when I can find a tree near me.
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u/Away-Ad3792 1d ago
When she starts reading and writing have her read to seniors and/ or write them cards.. the people in nursing homes love that. And it will help her practice a skill. Two birds, one stone.
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u/No_Lion6836 1d ago
My transplant center calls it my Re-Birthday. My brother gave me a living related perfect match almost 21 years ago. Still solid as a rock. We always celebrate this day. I wouldn’t be willing definitely be dead without him.
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u/Tagalong358 1d ago
Really if you want it to be from her maybe just coloring in 2 pictures and sending them to a nursing home to cheer someone up. I do like the sticker idea too. She would get that immediate positive feed back. It wouldn’t really go with the two theme but maybe she would actually remember it the following year.
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u/jkrm66502 17h ago
In my town, a recipient’s family hosts a blood drive every year. Your daughter is probably too young for that now but tuck that idea away if you live in a small-ish town.
You and your family are good eggs for thinking of this! It’s wonderful to bring awareness to donations.
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u/LatterBook2700 13h ago
Don't know where you live but you could put up a little free library/pantry or just donate to one. It could be ongoing it doesn't have to be only on the transplantaversary. Have your daughter pick out a book someone would like or a food and have her put it in the pantry/library. :)
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