Kids will LOVE this tutorial on How to Make Kindness Rocks. Because. Kindness rocks. This is a great activity to inspire kids to think of kindness, compassion, and community. It is inspired by the movie Ferdinand which is out on DVD now. Here’s How to Make Kindness Rocks…
How to Make Kindness Rocks
Kindness Rocks is an activity where you and your kids paint rocks with kind, inspirational messages and scatter them around your community. They can be left on trails, in school yards, in parks, on neighbours’ steps, in playgrounds — anywhere you think someone could use a little kindness.
Note: I did this activity with my 14 and 7 year old. And guess what?! They both were totally engaged with it! It’s not often that younger and older kids have one activity they can enjoy together. So take note/bookmark/pin this kindness rocks activity. It’s a winner!
You will need:
- flat rocks (look for them at the beach, in playgrounds, forest, even the craft store)
- Permanent markers
- Acrylic paint + mod podge (paint will wash away after a rainfall so you need to seal the rocks should you opt to paint them)
Directions:
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- Brainstorm inspirational messages with your kids. You could say them aloud, write them as a list, or draw them as a spider web. THINK: be kind, be happy, smile, be a friend, encourage others, do your best, make good choices…
- Have the kids write the inspirational messages – one per rock. I find the permanent marker is the best for writing the messages.
- Decorate the rocks around the messages. Flowers, starts, fireworks. Whatever you choose. Again, if you opt to use paint as a decoration, you will have to seal it with something like mod podge in order for it to maintain its decor after rain.
- Put the finished rocks into a bucket or bag and distribute them in your community. Maybe you discover new areas of your neighbourhood. Maybe you visit your tried and true places. Either way…you leave the rocks in a place where you (or your kids) feel they would be appreciated as an anonymous token of kindness.
Note: Finding rocks and placing rocks should be a whole-family activity. You shouldn’t direct kids to go to areas alone.
What I like about this activity is that it inspires kids to be proactive with creativity and kindness. It makes them empathize with the world around them. It makes them let others know they are appreciated and included.
Ferdinand DVD
My activity for kindness rocks is inspired by the movie Ferdinand. Why? Because of its themes of kindness, belonging, friendship, and being yourself. And the movie itself is dynamic, entertaining, and fun for the whole family. Bonus points for a great soundtrack (Nick Jonas, PitBull, Juanes).
Inspire kindness with Ferdinand (available on DVD, Ultra HD, and Blu-ray). Ferdinand is a giant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken as a fierce bull and taken from his home, he teams up with a team of friends for an epic adventure to return home. Ferdinand is based on the classic children’s book The Story of Ferdinand.
We have already done one round of kindness rocks and I’m already planning our next batch. Reading the Ferdinand book, watching the movie, making kindness rocks, and them distributing them in our community…it is such a GOOD way to spend an afternoon. A good family afternoon which spreads GOOD in the world.
Disclosure: This post is in partnership with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Opinions and activity directions are my own.
I have never heard of a kindness rock but I definitely think it’s a wonderful idea. I think nowadays people be reminded to be kind to others. This might be something I need to try out with my kiddo. I think he would love to give these out.
I LOVE this new kindness rock trend! I think it’s so great to find them randomly when I am out and about.
I paint and hide rocks locally in Ohio with the group Northeast Ohio Rocks! I am going to make a :”be kind” one when spring comes here 🙂
I love this idea to make the neighborhood and town more friendly and decorated. If a lot of families get together and each paint a rock it would be so much fun to find them all over.
I love this idea! I’m always looking for fun things to do with the grands kids, I think all of them will enjoy this.
I really love the idea of kindness rocks… I think this would be a great activity to do with the kids. My mom’s always looking for calm, easy things to do with my little one so this may be a good idea for when he gets a bit older.
This is such a cute idea for my kids. I know they have anti-bullying day tomorrow and this would be such a fun addition to it.
This is such a great crafting idea. There needs to be more kindness in the world.
We used to love the Ferdinand book when my son was younger! I think kindness rocks are a really fun idea. 🙂
I have seen people decorating rocks & leaving them around. It’s such a fun idea!
I think this is a fantastic idea. I’ll have to get the supplies I need to make some on the weekend with the kids.
Easy supplies to source!
It was a very positive activity
I can’t believe I had never read Ferdinand before! It’s a great story. The movie is awesome as well.
Agreed!
What a great idea for anti-bullying day!
I recommend kindness rocks as an activity
I’m sure you will enjoy it
It could turn into a scavenger hunt of kindness rocks
oh that is so nice
because kindness rocks of course! 😉
I think these kindness rocks are a fabulous idea. They are sure to brighten the day of whomever comes across them.
Great birthday party activity following the movie! Ferdinand is on our movie night list; thanks for the recommendation. Visiting from Celebrate It party.
that’s such a cute idea! oh and my kids and i loved the movie.
what a wonderful idea to encourage the concept-and so easy
thanks for sharing
KIindness rocks are a really big deal in the small town we live in. We found on a few months ago and replaced it into a different location. These are so fun! Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday. Hope to see you next week.
Such a beautiful idea Caroline. I can just imagine how beautiful the kids must feel inside finding one of the rocks and making them too. We need to spread more kindness any way we can