Kindness scenarios for kids: 30 real-life situations to practise

By the Life Scenario team · Updated · For children 6–14

30 situations where a child can choose to be kind when it is not the easy thing: a classmate sitting with no lunch again, a friend who forgot their wallet at the food court, a group chat making fun of someone’s clothes. Read one together and ask what the kind choice would be.

Kindness here is something a child does, not only something they feel. Many of these scenarios are small and close to home: an older person with a heavy shopping bag, a little brother crying over spilled milk, a tired family at the dinner table. Others ask for kindness while friends are watching, which is harder.

The scenarios were written by the Life Scenario team together with child psychologists. The first 7 appear here in full, exactly as they do in the game, and your child can try them without an account. The other 23 are listed further down by title and opening line, and play in the game with a free account. To make a free printable, use your browser’s Print command: the full scenarios print as a plain list.

7 kindness scenarios to read in full

  1. Unchosen

    Ages 8–14

    Your teacher announces a surprise class project — “Pick your own partners!” — and the room bursts into noise. You quickly turn to your best friend, but they’ve already teamed up with someone else. You look around and see a classmate sitting alone — someone who’s usually quiet and not very confident. You feel disappointed, and part of you wants to just work alone. Then the classmate looks up and says softly, “Do you… want to work together?”

    Also practises: resilience, empathy, self-awareness

    Practise this one: Unchosen

  2. Friend Next Door?

    Ages 8–14

    You and your neighbour have been best friends for years — you hang out almost every day after school.

    One morning you call out over the fence like usual, but this time he says, “I’ve got a friend over today — maybe another time.” As the day goes on, you see them laughing and playing together, and you start wondering if he likes his new friend more than you. What do you do?

    Also practises: resilience, self-awareness, relationship skills

    Practise this one: Friend Next Door?

  3. Movie without me?

    Ages 8–14

    You and your two closest friends always hang out on weekends — it’s your thing. On Friday afternoon, you overhear them talking excitedly about going to the movies the next day. You wait for them to mention inviting you… but they don’t. What do you do?

    Also practises: self-awareness, resilience

    Practise this one: Movie without me?

  4. You Snap. You regret

    Ages 8–14

    You’re doing homework when your little brother bursts into your room and accidentally knocks over your water bottle onto your project. You yell, “Get out!” — louder than you meant to. He runs away crying. A few minutes later, you realise he didn’t mean to — and your throat feels tight with guilt. What do you do?

    Also practises: self-awareness, self-control, empathy

    Practise this one: You Snap. You regret

  5. Secrets Spread

    Ages 10–14

    You shared something personal in a private chat. Later, you hear people whispering about it. A screenshot may have been shared. What do you do?

    Also practises: self-awareness, online safety, self-control

    Practise this one: Secrets Spread

  6. Unexpected Lunch Photo Shared with Friends

    Ages 10–14

    A student takes your photo while you're eating and shares it on a group story without asking. Others start commenting. What do you do?

    Also practises: empathy, social awareness, online safety

    Practise this one: Unexpected Lunch Photo Shared with Friends

  7. Clothes liner

    Ages 12–14

    Someone starts a group chat making fun of a classmate’s clothes.

    A few friends you like are in the chat too — and one of them adds you.

    You want to leave, but you also don’t want to look boring or self-righteous.

    Then someone posts a photo of one of your mates in clothes and everyone starts laughing.

    What do you do?

    Also practises: online safety, integrity, courage, social awareness

    Practise this one: Clothes liner

More scenarios in the game

23 more kindness scenarios to play in the game. Tap one to sign up free — it will be the first scenario your child plays.

  1. Struggling Elder Ages 6–8

    You see an older person struggling to carry a heavy shopping bag near the escalator.

    Play in the game

  2. Birthday Balloons Ages 6–10

    At a party, there’s one balloon left and you and another kid reach for it at the same time.

    Play in the game

  3. Giggles in Reading Time Ages 6–10

    During group reading time, a classmate struggles with a tricky word.

    Play in the game

  4. Lunch? Ages 6–10

    Your friend forgot their wallet at the food court and can’t buy lunch.

    Play in the game

  5. Please! Ages 6–10

    You notice your little brother never says “please” or “thank you.” How can you teach him manners without sounding bossy?

    Play in the game

  6. Finding a Seat Ages 6–14

    Your bus arrives to pick everyone up for an excursion and everyone rushes to pick seats on the bus.

    Play in the game

  7. Happy Birthday Ages 6–14

    You wake up on your birthday, excited for the day ahead.

    Play in the game

  8. Late or unhelpful? Ages 6–14

    Your friend is struggling to carry his art, sports bag and home bag.

    Play in the game

  9. Helping Hand Ages 8–12

    Your classmate is struggling with maths homework and the teacher keeps scolding them.

    Play in the game

  10. Argument at the table Ages 8–14

    It’s dinner time, and everyone’s tired.

    Play in the game

  11. Broken Promises Ages 8–14

    Your dad promised to come watch your school performance — the one you’d been rehearsing for all month.

    Play in the game

  12. Dad's Bad Mood Ages 8–14

    You come home after a long day, excited to tell your family about your great maths test result.

    Play in the game

  13. Kind Note Sparks Mixed Reactions Ages 8–14

    You find an anonymous note in your locker saying something kind and encouraging.

    Play in the game

  14. No Lunch Again Ages 8–14

    You see a classmate sitting quietly with no lunch again.

    Play in the game

  15. Silent apology? Ages 8–14

    You’re trying to finish your homework when your mum suddenly asks you to help clean up the kitchen.

    Play in the game

  16. The Favourite Child? Ages 8–14

    Your younger sister just won a big art award at school.

    Play in the game

  17. Unfair Blame Ages 8–14

    You walk into the kitchen and find your younger brother crying — he’s dropped a full jug of milk all over the floor.

    Play in the game

  18. Hurtful Words Ages 10–14

    You’ve just finished cleaning your room after being told to all morning.

    Play in the game

  19. Robot Malfunction Ages 10–14

    Your school robotics team has been working for weeks on a competition project.

    Play in the game

  20. Spotlight Ages 10–14

    Your class is preparing a group performance for the school showcase.

    Play in the game

  21. The Blame Game Ages 10–14

    You and your younger sibling are watching TV when a glass of juice spills all over the couch.

    Play in the game

  22. The Team Divide Ages 10–14

    You’re part of a four-person group preparing for a big inter-school challenge.

    Play in the game

  23. No Dance off? Ages 12–14

    At a group hangout, everyone starts copying a viral dance on social media.

    Play in the game

How can you use these at home or in class?

  1. Ask your child what the person in the scenario needs right now. Sometimes it is help, sometimes company and sometimes just to be left alone.
  2. Ask for the smallest kind thing that would help, such as sharing a snack, offering to carry a bag or saying “Do you want to sit with us?”
  3. Talk about what it might cost: a friend who teases, a seat you wanted, a few minutes of your game. Kindness that costs something is the kind worth practising.
  4. Try the words with you playing the other person, then swap so your child feels what it is like to be on the receiving end.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What are examples of kindness for kids?

Sharing lunch with a classmate who has none, helping a friend carry their bags, choosing a partner nobody else picked, or leaving a group chat that is making fun of someone. The scenarios on this page are built around everyday moments like these, at school, at home and online.

How is kindness different from empathy?

Empathy is understanding how someone else feels. Kindness is what you do about it. There is a separate list of empathy scenarios in this library, and many situations practise both.

What age are these kindness scenarios for?

Ages 6 to 14, and each scenario shows its own range. The party balloon, reading time and shopping bag scenarios are written for younger children, and the group chat and school showcase ones for 10 and up.

Are these kindness scenarios free?

The scenarios shown in full are free to read and print, and a child can try them in Life Scenario without an account. The others play in the game with a free account, and new accounts get 5 free scenarios.

Guides for parents on this

One situation in depth

My child is in a group chat that’s being mean to a classmateThe class chat has turned on a kid who isn’t in it. What your child can post, message privately or do offline to help, and what you can say at home.

More scenario lists

The whole scenario library