Holiday Kindness Challenge for Teens

A holiday kindness challenge for teens is a December countdown they build themselves. Teens write 15 to 20 kind acts on paper or a poster, then check off one a day through the month. They pick the acts, so they actually do them. By Christmas, they have a full list of good things done for other people.

What supplies do you need?

• Paper (a few sheets) or a poster board
• Markers or pens in at least two colors
• A ruler for drawing the checkbox column (optional)
• Tape or sticky tack to hang the list

How do you set up the challenge?

1. Write "Holiday Kindness Challenge" across the top of the paper or poster board with a marker.
2. Read through the idea list below together and circle the ones your teen likes. Add any of their own ideas until the list reaches 15 to 20 acts.
3. Write each act on its own line with an empty box in front of it for the check mark.
4. Tape the list somewhere it will be seen every day, like the fridge or a bedroom door.
5. Start on December 1 and check off one act per day. Skipping a day is fine. The goal is the doing, not a perfect streak.

What kind acts go on the list?

1. Write a thank-you note to a teacher.
2. Shovel a neighbor's walk, with their permission first.
3. Donate a gently used toy to a toy drive.
4. Call a grandparent or older relative just to talk.
5. Leave a warm drink or packet of cocoa on the porch for the mail carrier.
6. Hold the door for five people in one day.
7. Pick up litter on your street for ten minutes.
8. Bake cookies for a neighbor, with an adult helping in the kitchen.
9. Write three compliments on paper and hand them out.
10. Drop canned food at a food bank collection bin.
11. Leave a kind note tucked inside a library book.
12. Help a sibling with homework without being asked.
13. Sort old clothes into a bag for the donation bin.
14. Send a thank-you text to a coach or mentor.
15. Make a holiday card for a nursing home resident.
16. Let someone go ahead of you in a checkout line.
17. Clean a shared room without being asked.
18. Carry groceries for a neighbor or family member.

How does the December countdown work?

1. Do one act per day, in any order. Save the hard ones for weekends and fit the easy ones after school.
2. Check the box the same day the act is done. Watching the boxes fill is most of the motivation.
3. Mark the acts that need a ride or an adult's help with a star, and plan those for a weekend day.
4. On Christmas Eve, read the finished list together if your teen wants to. No speech and no ceremony required.

What goes wrong, and how do you fix it?

• Your teen stalls out by week two. Cut the list to ten acts and keep going. A shorter finished list beats a long abandoned one.
• An act needs a ride or an adult. Those are the starred ones from setup. Plan them for a weekend, since food bank drop-offs and nursing home visits usually need a driver.
• The ideas start to cost money. Most acts on this list are free. Do the no-cost acts first and save the spending ones, like baking for a neighbor, for later.
• It feels forced or awkward. Let your teen invite a friend to do the challenge too. Teens follow through more when a friend is in on it, and it stops feeling like a parent project.
• An act needs a neighbor's permission. Shoveling a walk or helping with groceries means asking first. One sentence does it: "I am doing a kindness challenge. Can I shovel your walk?"

More Christmas fun to try

• Escape Room for Tweens
• Santa Letter and Wish List
• Christmas Would-You-Rather Cards

Want more Christmas activities? Join our email list and we will send you new seasonal activities as we publish them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this holiday kindness challenge right for?

Ages 13 to 17 are the sweet spot. Teens choose their own acts, which gives them ownership and makes them more likely to follow through. Mature tweens ages 11 and 12 can join with a parent nearby for any acts that leave the house. Younger kids do better with a family list where everyone picks one shared act per day.

How much mess does this challenge make?

Almost none. Markers on paper, tape on the wall, and that is the whole footprint. A poster board version can hang on a bedroom door instead of the fridge to keep shared spaces clear. If markers bleed through thin paper, slide a second sheet underneath while writing. End-of-December cleanup takes about two minutes.

How much time does the challenge take?

Setup takes about 30 minutes: reading the ideas, picking favorites, and writing the list. Each act takes 10 to 30 minutes, and most fit after school or on a weekend. One act a day keeps the pace gentle. If your teen falls behind, let them double up on easy acts over a weekend instead of quitting.

How do I keep my teen safe during the challenge?

Keep every act in public or at home, and have your teen tell you where they are going and when they will be back. Drop-offs like cocoa for the mail carrier stay on the porch, never inside a building. Any act involving another person's property needs permission first. Teens should bring a friend for acts that leave the neighborhood, and they should never enter a stranger's home.

Be safe and have fun!