Skip to Content

Looking for the best info on potty training your toddler? Click here.

Weekend Project: Loves Notes to a City

Categories: Preschoolers, Teens & tweens, Fun & activities, Development, In the news, Playground bureau, Education

It doesn't take much to turn someones day around: a smile, holding the door a split second for the person behind you, asking a child on the elevator if they would like to press the button, offering sincere thanks for a small kindness, or by making random notes of kindness with your children.

The idea of writing Love Notes to a City was thought up by Krystyn Heide to offset the bad feelings she got from an anonymous hate note she discovered in a New York coffeehouse and from the crowds of gawkers gathered within view of her office windows, outside what she later learned was the building where Heath Ledger had died.

Inspirational blogger Jen Lemen embraced the idea and encouraged others to spread love notes of hope to their own cities. (She even found a chocolate company willing to provide sweet treats to attach to her love notes!)

All you need to do to join in this spirit-lifting exercise is to write a positive message or lovely quotation on a small piece of sturdy paper (or print out many using the computer!) and hide the messages in plain view somewhere in your area.

Tuck the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh (You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think) in a book at the library, leave a compliment (Your smile sparkles like stars in the sky) by a mirror in a public restroom, or a message of hope (You can do it!) in the produce section of your grocery store.

One of your family's Love Notes might just change everything, and that's a pretty cool return on investing a little bit of your time.

Recent Posts

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ParentDish Polls

    Hollywood's Hottest Dad
    51% of you voted Hugh Jackman the Hottest Dad in Hollywood by a landslide. Wolverine edged out Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp -- and we can see why.

    Jewel Samad/Getty Images

    Best Stepdad
    How cool would it be to have Ashton Kutcher as your stepdad? Pretty cool, according to 52% of you. After all, you wouldn't have to teach him how to send a text message or use Twitter! Kutcher is pictured here in 2007 with stepdaughters Rumer and Tallulah Willis.

    Evan Agostini/Getty Images

    Who cares about IQ?
    Not ParentDish readers! 80% of you said that this 24-year-old UK mom should be allowed to keep her baby--even after social workers said she was "too stupid" to take care of her.

    Jenny Goodall, Daily Mail / ZUMA Press

    Enough With the Gosselins!
    Will you buy Kate Gosselin's cookbook? 64% of you say no -- and you're also tired of hearing about her.

    David Livingston, Getty Images

    Best Babysitters
    31% of you said that you would leave your kids with Ellen and Portia, while only 9% would trust Oprah to babysit. Interesting, since none of the celebs are parents.

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images

    Fav Celeb Mom
    Jennifer Garner is your favorite celebrity mom, beating out Angelina Jolie and First Lady Michelle Obama with 37% of the vote.

    Kris Connor, Getty Images

    Bad Mommy
    Dina Lohan and Courtney Love tied for worst celebrity mom, each with 32% of your votes. Only 3% of you said that Kate Moss was a bad mom, though, which says a lot -- mostly what a mess Dina Lohan is.

    Michael Buckner, Getty Images

    Unimpressed
    Only 8% of you think Bristol Palin a better parent than baby daddy Levi. [Get the full story]

    Getty

    Octo Overload?
    60% of you are worried about her kids. Maybe because she reportedly once stripped under the name "Angelina?" [Get the full story]

    Getty

    Tough to Swallow
    45% of you said this Burger King ad was "totally inappropriate." What would the King say? [Get the full story]

    YouTube

Features

Recent Comments