It is a truth universally acknowledged that we need to celebrate children’s day everyday!! Which is why this post brings to you so many wonderful ways to celebrate children, and days too; well, I know mentioned everyday already but I just want to list out a few of the specific dates that are set aside as Children’s Day around the world.

Quotes About Children

“Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people.” — Nelson Mandela

“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” -Walt Streightiff

“The best way to make children good is to make them happy.” – Oscar Wilde

“Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

“Everything is ceremony in the wild garden of childhood.” ― Pablo Neruda

“It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.” – L.R Knost

“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James A. Baldwin

“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” – John W. Whitehead

“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have for instance.” – Franklin P. Jones

“The first happiness of a child is to know that he is loved.” – Don Bosco

“To me there is no picture so beautiful as smiling, bright-eyed, happy children; no music so sweet as their clear and ringing laughter.” – P. T. Barnum

“The secret of genius is to preserve the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.” –  Aldous Huxley

So Many Wonderful Ways to Celebrate Children’s Day

For groups of children

• Organize treasure hunts or scavenger hunts. This can be adapted for various age groups by making clues appropriately easy or challenging.
• String hunts: This can be fun for little ones. Tie a long piece of string all across/around the yard or any are with little gifts attached to it. Children can complete fun activities to collect their gifts.
• Games like musical chairs, charades, or dance or pool parties can also be fun.

With your children

• Take them for an outing; the zoo, the movies, or even a picnic
• Share stories from your childhood, or your children’s day memories.
• Go hiking or on a long drive to destinations selected by your children
• Plan and make all the meals with them for the day

For children anywhere

• Donate to local or global agencies that work with and help children. It could be local social service organizations, or others like UNICEF, CARE, St. Jude’s, or any other
• You can check with your child’s school and pay off lunch dues for other children, or offer donations if they take any

So Many Days to Celebrate Children’s Day!

People around the world celebrate Children’s Day in many different ways and on different days. I list just a few of those in this section. For the remaining, you can check out Wikipedia’s page on Children’s Day

November 14th, India

Growing up in India, I eagerly awaited a few annual celebrations, even though they were not school holidays! Children’s Day on November 14th was one such annual event. The date was a tribute to India’s First Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Children affectionately called him ‘Chacha Nehru’ (literally translates to uncle Nehru).

November 20th, World Children’s’ Day

World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare (source).

March 3rd and May 5th, Japan

Japan has a long tradition of celebrating children’s day twice a year, as far back as the 8th century! March 3rd, also known as the Doll Festival (which is so very similar to the Navratri Golu celebrations), is for girls. During this festival, Japanese decorate their households with traditional doll sets and plum blossom, and drink Amazake. On May 5th, which is for boys, they fly carp streamers outside their homes, display Samurai dolls, and eat Kashiwa mochi  and  chimaki.

June 1st, Various Countries

The  Women’s International Democratic Federation in Moscow established June 1st as the International Day for Protection of Children on 4 November 1949. Since 1950, many countries around the world celebrate Children’s Day on June 1st.

Various dates, USA

Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, pastor of Chelsea’s Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Massachusetts, held a special service dedicated to, and for the children, on the second Sunday of June in 1857. He initially named the day Rose Day, though it later became Flower Sunday, and finally Children’s Day. In 2000, President Bill Clinton proclaimed October 8th as National Children’s Day, but in June of the following year, his predecessor proclaimed the second Sunday of June as National Children’ Day. Later, the Obama administration chose to change the date yet again to November 20, to coincide with the UN’s World Children’s Day.

With all these changes, different communities across the US pick different dates to mark this occasion!

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And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, do you celebrate Children’s Day? Which of these dates have you celebrated it on? What is your most memorable such celebration? Or do you have any fun suggestions for such a celebration? Do let me know.