Friday finds
One fun fact, one thing to try and
one thought to take into the weekend.
Theme: Kindness Comes in All Sizes
Hello, and happy Friday!
Today is World Kindness Day, and kindness comes in all sizes, from a big gesture to a small hello. This week we're taking our inspiration from a very unexpected place in nature: penguins.
Nature
Did you know?
Some penguins, such as Gentoo and Adélie penguins, give gifts. A penguin will search for a smooth pebble and present it to a partner, and these pebbles are also used to build the nest. A tiny stone, carefully chosen and given with care. It's a lovely reminder that kindness doesn't have to be big to mean something.
Watch the video (opens in a new tab)
Three pebble facts
- smooththe pebble a penguin goes looking for
- a giftpresented to a partner, chosen with care
- a nestwhat the pebbles go on to build
Connection
What we're reading
The science of the "helper's high"
Kindness really is good for the giver too.
The "helper's high" is the warm glow that follows helping others without expecting anything back. It was first described in the 1980s, and later research has supported it. Giving appears to engage the brain's reward system, the same network linked to dopamine, and it's associated with better health and longevity too.
It's a different kind of lift from the quick spikes of scrolling. It tends to feel steadier, and it connects us to other people rather than to a screen. Kindness really is good for the giver too.
Mindfulness
Mindful practice
The kindness ripple
For grown-ups and childrenTakes a few minutes
Kindness is easier to notice when we slow down enough to look for it. This is a simple way to start.
- Pause: Think about who is part of your day: a neighbour, a shopkeeper, a teacher, a friend.
- Choose: Pick one small act of kindness you could do this weekend. It might be checking in on a neighbour, saying a warm hello to someone you see often, or leaving a positive review for a local seller you love.
- Do: Carry it out, with no need for anything in return.
- Notice: How did it feel, for you and for them?
Doing this with children? Let them choose the act, and ask, "How do you think that made them feel?"
Wishing you a warm, kind weekend.
We're so glad you're HERE.
Jen & Dana
Related activities from HERE
Want to take this week's ideas further? These free activities from the HERE library fit the theme.
For small acts of kindness
- Random Acts Of KindnessKids and teens write down the kind acts they can start today.
- Kindness BingoA playful bingo card of kind acts for children and families to tick off together.
- Kindness QuiltEach child fills a patch with what kindness means to them, then the patches join into one shared quilt.
- Community Connection ChallengeA grid of small community kindnesses, from a kind message to inviting someone to join in, to tick off over a week or a month.
For kind wishes and thank-yous
- Sending Loving KindnessA two minute affirmation: may you be safe, may you be healthy, may you be loved.
- Kindness BreathsBreathe out kind wishes for someone you care about, and breathe in kind wishes for yourself.
- Share Your GratitudeTell someone today that you are grateful for them.
- Loving Kindness NotesFill four hearts with kind words about the people you love, then cut them out and give them away.
Questions this week
Do penguins really give each other pebbles?
Some penguins, such as Gentoo and Adélie penguins, do. A penguin will search for a smooth pebble and present it to a partner, and the pebbles are also used to build the nest.
What is the helper's high?
The helper's high is the warm glow that follows helping others without expecting anything back. It was first described in the 1980s, and later research has supported it.
Why does being kind feel good?
Giving appears to engage the brain's reward system, the same network linked to dopamine. It's also associated with better health and longevity.
What is the kindness ripple?
A few minute practice for grown-ups and children: think about who is part of your day, pick one small act of kindness for the weekend, carry it out with no need for anything in return, then notice how it felt for you and for them.
How can children join in with the kindness ripple?
Let them choose the act, and ask, "How do you think that made them feel?"
When is World Kindness Day?
World Kindness Day is marked every year on 13 November. In 2026 it falls on a Friday.