10 Kindness Songs for Kids and Kindness Activity Ideas

Music has a beautiful way of connecting with young hearts, teaching valuable lessons in a fun and engaging way. Here’s a curated selection of catchy songs that celebrate kindness, connection, and the joy of friendship. These songs are perfect for early childhood settings, whether you're planning a circle time, group activity, or simply want to encourage positive social interaction.

You’ve Got a Friend in Me (Randi Newman)

This classic hit is a fantastic way to talk about friendship and being there for others. You can use it to introduce themes of helping, supporting, and caring for friends.

Three Kind Mice (Raffi and Lindsay Monroe)

A playful twist on the traditional nursery rhyme, this song teaches kids about kindness in a simple, fun way. To extend the lesson, enjoy a FREE kindness mouse craft, coloring sheet, and song visuals. You can find it here!

This Little Light of Mine (Elizabeth Mitchell)

This well-loved song can be turned into a lesson on how we can let our light shine for others—how we can let our kindness shine. I’ve created a Kindness Star Craft that pairs beautifully with this song and helps reinforce the lesson of kindness. You can find it in my shop here!

With a Little Help from My Friends (Caspar Babypants)

Another wonderful classic that celebrates teamwork and relying on others, this one can lead to discussions on how friends can support and help each other.

Kindness (Juicebox Jukebox)

A catchy, easy-to-sing-along chorus that’s perfect for sharing the message of how simple and wonderful kindness is to give. Pair this with an activity where kids can share examples of kind actions they’ve experienced.

Kindness Grows (Little Ripples)

This gentle song is a wonderful way to nurture friendship, empathy, and the joy of caring for one another. Use it in your sessions to explore how being kind helps friendships blossom and makes everyone feel good.

Kindness Mantra (Kira Willey)

This simple but powerful song is perfect for a mindfulness moment, encouraging children to think about how they can bring kindness into the world. It’s a great way to introduce the idea of being kind to both others and ourselves, while incorporating the calming power of breathing in and out.

I've Got Peace in My Fingers (Susan Salidor)

A lovely, rhythmic song about spreading peace, which can be paired with hand movements and gestures to make it interactive. It helps children connect the concept of kindness to their actions.

Try a Little Kindness (Sesame Street with Tori Kelly)

This Sesame Street tune features familiar faces and teaches simple ways to practice kindness, highlighting the positive impact even small acts can make.

K-I-N-D (Stephanie Leavell)

This catchy song teaches children how to spell "kind" while reinforcing what it means to be kind.

Sweet Sounds of Kindness and Friendship: Musical Activity Ideas

• Kindness Chain: After listening to some of the songs above, have children create a kindness chain. Each child can draw or write one way they can be kind to a friend, and the links are connected to form a chain. Hang it in your classroom as a reminder!

• Friendship Bracelets: Pair this activity with a song like You've Got a Friend in Me or K-I-N-D. Have children create friendship bracelets to exchange with one another as a symbol of their connection.

• Kindness Stars: After singing This Little Light of Mine, guide the children in creating Kindness Stars. Each child can decorate a star and write one kind thing they can do to make someone's day brighter. Display the stars to celebrate acts of kindness.

• Three Kind Mice Activity: Pair Three Kind Mice with a creative activity where children can make kindness mouse puppets. Have them act out ways the mice could show kindness to others in different situations. This is a great way to encourage imaginative play while reinforcing the theme of kindness.

Free Resource: A Curated List of 35 Songs to Support Social-Emotional Development

Want more songs to support social-emotional development and emotional well-being in your classroom? Sign up here to receive a complete list of 35 curated songs that encourage kindness, empathy, and emotional well-being. This free resource will give you even more ways to bring meaningful music into your lessons, with songs that children will love!

Teaching kindness and friendship through music is such a joyful way to help children develop important social-emotional skills. Whether you're using these songs during circle time or throughout the day, they will encourage your students to build caring connections with each other.