30 Easy Random Acts of Kindness for Teenagers

Ahhh, Teenagers.  The elusive eighth wonder of the world.  Though joined together by being in the same age group, teens are a complicated and diverse group, with a variety of interests and concerns.  Social status is often the common denominator between these creatures we call teens, as in none would dare do anything that might diminish or tarnish their image to others.

This post is the last in a series of random acts of kindness ideas based on requests from readers. We have covered acts of kindness for animal lovers, for Techies as well as acts that benefit the military.  Yet this is perhaps the trickiest post of all.  The acts of kindness listed below are easy to do and can remain subtle enough for those who prefer to remain under the radar.

1. Call your grandmother.
2. Hold the door for someone.
3. Let someone go in front of you in line.
4. Leave extra change in the vending machine.
5. Send an email to someone to show your appreciation or thanks.
6. Use your manners. Say please, thank you and excuse me.
7. Give a compliment. It only takes one sentence.
8. Say good morning to your teachers and bus drivers. On Fridays wish them a good weekend.
9. Pick up litter around school, on the bus and in your neighborhood.
10. Help your younger brother or sister with homework.
11. Drop off old books to your local library or children’s hospital.
12. Going for a run? Offer to take your neighbor’s dog along with you for some exercise.
13. Help someone in need with their packages or their cart at the supermarket.
14. Donate your old cell phones. You can usually drop them off at the local police department or send them to Cell Phones for Soldiers.
15. Help around the house without being asked to do so.
16. Donate old eyeglasses to an organization that recycles them for people in need.
17. Contact Habitat for Humanity to find out how you and your friends can help in your community.
18. Organize the clothes you don’t wear anymore and donate them.
19. Shovel an elderly or handicapped neighbor’s driveway when it snows.
20. After your morning Facebook status check, head over to Care2.com/click-to-donate/. Each time you click, their sponsors donate.
21. Volunteer at or run in a local 5k or 10k for charity.  You can find upcoming events at Active.com.
22. Give blood.  Go to the Red Cross website for information.
23. Mow your neighbors’ lawns or water their plants while they are out of town.
24. Download Browse for a Cause and support a charity with every search query or online purchase.
25. Donate a tweet at: http://justcoz.org/.
26. Are you a gamer? Then play Games for Change and give back while playing. 
27. Collect Box Tops for Education for your school.
28. Go to DoSomething.org and GenerationOn.org/teens/pick-project, find a cause that matters to you and read what you can do to help.
29. Stand up for those who are being bullied.
30. Hug your mother.

Clearly, there are many more items which could be added to this list, particularly for teens that are more vocal and comfortable with the idea of giving back.  What acts of kindness have you or your teen done today?

Check out the other posts in the Acts of Kindness series:
15 Acts of Kindness for Pet Lovers and Animal Enthusiasts
20 Acts of Kindness You Can Do from Your Phone, PC or Tablet
20 Acts of Kindness that Support the Military

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