Am I on the Nice List? 40 good deed ideas for Christmas

Updated 2026-10-26 · IncrediApp

"He's making a list, he's checking it twice." The Nice List is one of the best-loved parts of the Santa story, and a great excuse to do a little more good in December. Here is how the tradition works and 40 good deed ideas to fill your own Nice List before Christmas.

We make Chat with Santa, which has a Nice List feature, so we mention it and say so clearly. Updated for Christmas 2026.

The naughty and nice tradition

The idea that Santa rewards good behaviour goes back a long way in Christmas folklore, and the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" fixed the image of Santa "making a list and checking it twice". Today the Nice List is less about earning presents and more about noticing kindness.

40 good deed ideas

At home

1. Make breakfast for someone.
2. Do a chore nobody asked you to do.
3. Tidy a shared space.
4. Help wrap presents or write cards.
5. Leave a kind note on someone's pillow.
6. Take over the dishes for a night.
7. Help decorate the tree.
8. Look after a pet's walk or feeding.
9. Let someone else choose the film.
10. Say thank you for something small.

For friends and family

11. Call a grandparent or older relative.
12. Send a message to a friend you have not spoken to in a while.
13. Make a handmade card.
14. Bake something to share.
15. Write down three things you like about someone and give it to them.
16. Help a classmate or colleague with something tricky.
17. Share a favourite book or game.
18. Plan a small surprise.
19. Apologise for something and mean it.
20. Listen properly when someone needs to talk.

For neighbours

21. Shovel a neighbour's path or rake leaves.
22. Bring in someone's bins.
23. Drop off a card or treats.
24. Offer to help an older neighbour with shopping.
25. Smile and say hello on your street.
26. Return something you borrowed.
27. Pick up litter on your road.
28. Hold the door, carry a bag, give up a seat.
29. Thank a delivery driver or postal worker.
30. Leave a kind review for a small local business.

For your community

31. Donate food to a food bank.
32. Donate clothes, toys or books in good condition.
33. Volunteer for a few hours.
34. Join a charity walk or community clean-up.
35. Make cards for a care home.
36. Help at a school or community event.
37. Give a gift to a toy drive.
38. Support a local animal shelter.
39. Sing carols for neighbours or a care home.
40. Teach someone a skill you know.

Keep track of your Nice List

Writing good deeds down is half the fun. Use a paper list on the fridge, a notes app, or the Nice List in Chat with Santa 2.0, where you can fill your list with good deeds and earn a Nice List stamp for kind letters. You can also tell Santa what you have been up to: text or call him or write him a letter. Santa in the app is AI-powered entertainment, not the real Santa, and the app is intended for users 13 and older.

A Nice List countdown

One good deed a day from 1 December to Christmas Eve gives you 24. Pair it with the Christmas countdown and Santa tracker and finish on Thursday 24 December 2026.

FAQ

How do I get on the Nice List?

In Christmas tradition, Santa keeps a list of who has been naughty or nice. Kindness, helping others and being a good friend are the classic ways onto the Nice List.

Can I check if I'm on the Nice List?

There is no official list to check. In the Chat with Santa app you can fill your own Nice List with good deeds, and kind letters to Santa earn a Nice List stamp. It is a playful, AI-powered entertainment feature.

How many good deeds should I do?

There is no number. Many people like one small good deed a day between 1 December and Christmas Eve, which works out to 24.