Acts of Kindness Summer Bucket List to Accomplish at Home

While this summer might not include the normal activities of family vacations, barbeques, and friend-filled gatherings, it doesn’t mean you and your little ones can’t make some one-of-a-kind memories together. Due to the current climate, showing kindness to those who need it can be very powerful, so why not incorporate some family-friendly activities that promote positivity? We’re talking about creating a summer bucket list of ideas and activities to make others smile.

Your children are only young once, and we all know summer is so special for them, so a fantastic activity is sitting down and planning ways to spread random acts of kindness. This “pay it forward” idea can be done from the comfort of your own home and make a significant impact on your neighborhood, community, or even your greater city!

Keep reading to learn how you and your family can create a summer bucket list to accomplish at home! Download the printable at the end!

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Benefits of a Summer Bucket List

The vast majority of Americans have a bucket list. One study found that more than 90% keep informal to-do lists, and more than 20% even tweak their bucket lists at least once a month. When you make a list of all the things you’d like to do, writing them may propel you to become more aware of what’s really important to you. The simple act of reflecting on what you’d like to accomplish can also help you (and your little ones) develop goals to achieve them. This might be a great time to introduce them to the idea of manifesting what they want. The first steps are being clear about your goals, asking for what you want, and then working towards those goals!

The great thing about bucket lists is that they are not permanent. As your little ones grow, they can revisit their bucket lists and see what they have accomplished, reflect, and be proud of themselves. They can also decide whether to revise their lists by adding new bucket list items or taking things off that might be less relevant to them as they get older.

Summer bucket lists are especially valuable because they require a window of time to complete (the 2-3 months summer last), ensuring this activity will challenge your child and help them learn life lessons outside of the classroom. These activities can be educational, strictly for fun, or our favorite—meant to help others!

Where to Start When Making a Summer Bucket List to Help Others

Summer bucket list of ideas to make people happy

Click to download the printable bucket list!

When creating your own summer bucket list meant to show acts of kindness, start by listing activities you value. Do you appreciate spending time with loved ones, receiving acts of service, or giving gifts? If you’re making a list with your kiddos, ask them to recall all the nice things people have done for them on their birthday or over the holidays. If it was their friend’s birthday, what would they like?

Another way to spark inspiration is by thinking about random acts of kindness you might not consider doing on a day-to-day basis. These can seem small but have a significant impact when someone’s having a hard day! Start big or small with activities like writing a card to a friend or donating money for a cause you believe in.

Let’s break down activities for your bucket list by love language!

Acts of Service

Acts of service can be a powerful tool that expresses kindness without saying a word. Little ones can show acts of kindness to their parents by picking up their room, doing simple chores like cleaning, and tidying up after themselves. Another act of service for older kids could be planning surprises like serving mom or dad breakfast in bed. Even the act of letting mom or dad sleep in could go miles for a weary parent. Here are some ideas to share with your little ones:

Learn to cook a recipe to deliver to a friend’s house.
Master your friend’s favorite song on an instrument and play it to them as a surprise.
Plant an indoor garden and use those herbs and veggies in meals for a month.
Go vegetarian or vegan for a month.
Foster a rescued cat or dog.
Cook all meals for your family for a week.
Grow out your hair and donate it to a worthy cause.
Smile at as many people as possible in a day.
Circulate a petition online for a community cause.
Pick up trash in your local park.
Help someone check off an item from their bucket list.

Words of Affirmation

Words of affirmation are the best way to express your kind feelings for someone. While this activity may seem simple or mundane, you’ll be surprised how a kind greeting or compliment can make someone’s day. Explore our ideas to add to your bucket list:

Share a memory you love with your family members.
Tell your friend how beautiful their smile is.
Tell your little brother or sister how proud you are of them.
Give everyone in your family (extended family too) a compliment.
Tell your mailperson how much you appreciate all they do.
Send a thank-you note to a veteran.
Cheer your friend on at their sports game.
Give an in-person positive review to the owner of your favorite restaurant. Online reviews are nice, too!

Touch

There are still ways to show this love language without risking your safety. Sometimes the best gift you can give is a hug. Explore our ideas to add to your bucket list below:

Send someone a virtual hug.
Hug your mom.
Hug your dog.
Give your grocery man an air high five.
Give your friend a thumbs up.
Smile at everyone you see.

Gifts

Giving gifts is another safe way you can show kindness! Schedule a delivery or drop off your gift to whoever is on your bucket list! Explore our ideas to add to your bucket list below:

Send flowers to a friend.
Drop off your favorite book for a friend to read.
Make a DIY spa basket for a friend.
Draw your friend a picture.
Host a virtual bake sale with all of the proceeds given to a charity.
Leave an unexpected tip for someone.
Drop off groceries for someone who needs it.

Quality Time

Lastly, this act of kindness can be done easily by just taking some time out of your day! Use some of your extra free time this summer by spending quality time with family members or those you haven’t seen in a while. You can also meet with friends virtually and be an ear to listen to someone who needs it.

Ask a stranger how they’re doing and listen to what they have to say.
Schedule a movie night for you and your family.
Help a parent with a household project.
Go grocery shopping with your mom or dad.
Help your little brother or sister with a chore.
Call your grandparents and tell them what you did that day.

To give you a little more inspiration, the folks at WikiBuy have rounded up over 100 simple bucket list ideas to show some kindness this summer! Checking off items on your bucket list should make you happy, but it can also make others happy. Explore their Make Others Happy Bucket List below as well as their printable to check off and celebrate your progress in style!

Download their printable here!

Author Bio
Jacqueline DesLauriers is a recently returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Morocco with her husband, Dylan, for 18 months. Now, she runs two websites. The first covers all things about the seven wonders of the world, and the second is a Peace Corps and travel blog that dives into topics like ethical volunteering, the outdoors, and responsible lifestyles!