Bible-Based Ways to Encourage Kindness and Compassion in Kids

Kindness and compassion are at the heart of Christian teachings, and they’re values we want our kids to carry with them into the world. But how do we instill these qualities in a way that’s meaningful and lasting? Here are ten ways to teach kids about being compassionate, just as Jesus taught us.

 


Role-Playing Acts of Kindness

Have your kids act out scenarios where they can show kindness, like comforting a friend or helping someone in need. You can guide them through role-plays based on Bible stories, like the Good Samaritan, helping them practice empathy in everyday situations.

Create “Kindness Cards” with Bible Verses

Make small cards with uplifting Bible verses and let kids decorate them. Encourage them to hand out these “kindness cards” to friends, family, or even strangers who could use a little extra love. This helps them connect kind words with actions inspired by the Bible.

Family Kindness Jar

Set up a jar where family members can write down and add acts of kindness they noticed each other doing. At the end of each week, read the notes together. You could use this as an opportunity to share how Jesus showed kindness, reinforcing the idea with examples from Scripture.

Introduce “Kind Words” Time

Set aside five minutes each day where everyone speaks kind words about each other. This practice, inspired by Ephesians 4:29, helps kids develop the habit of speaking in love.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.”

Serve Together as a Family

Choose a simple service project, like baking cookies for a neighbor or volunteering to help clean a local park. Kids see that acts of kindness aren’t just for friends but for everyone, and they get to experience firsthand the joy of giving.

Read Bible Stories of Jesus Helping Others

Spend time reading stories where Jesus showed compassion, like healing the sick or feeding the hungry. Make it interactive with children and ask questions about how they would feel if they were the ones helped, connecting these stories to their lives.

Weekly “Secret Service” Missions

Each week, assign “secret missions” where family members perform small acts of kindness without revealing who did it. Lead in assigning these missions, teaching kids that kindness doesn’t require recognition—just a loving heart.

Create a “Kindness Wall”

Dedicate a section of your home to displaying photos, drawings or notes about acts of kindness. As you add to it, talk about verses like Matthew 5:16, which encourages us to let our light shine through our good deeds.

Blessing Bags for the Homeless

Assemble small care packages with necessities like snacks, socks, or toothbrushes, and distribute them as a family. Explain to your kids that Jesus cared for the least of these, showing them that small actions can make a big difference.

Use Kindness Check-Ins at Mealtime

During meals, have everyone share a way they showed kindness that day or something nice that someone did for them. Remind your family that God loves it when we choose kindness, helping kids reflect on their actions with gratitude.


 

Kindness is a Fruit of the Spirit, and it’s one of the traits Christians should exhibit to show others that we have Christ within us. Try these tips out to practice kindness in your everyday routine.