National Children's Day

National Children's Day June 12th, 2022

Did you know there was a day dedicated to Children, just for Children, to celebrate Children?

Like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and Grandparents Day, of course it makes perfect sense to have a day that is just for them!

What will you do with your children or grandchildren?

There are hundreds of ideas that encapsulate summertime, play and all that warm weather and time off allow for.

But did you know…?

The most precious things can happen even in the very smallest moments of our experience.

Almost all teachers, before the end of the year, encourage a few things for their students during summer break… One is…

Reading, Reading, Reading. Once seen as a very simple, bedtime or quiet time routine, nowadays one might actually need to turn off a television or Ipad to bring focus back to a book. Remember the Little Golden Books for children?  They can most likely be picked up for $1 a piece at your local book reseller and they are treasures.  The challenge is in carving out that time from a normally busy day.

This entire blog could most likely cover the wonderful world of reading, but for now, a reminder to spend that reading time with your loved one.  Ten minutes, 20 minutes.

If your child is reading their own series, ask them to tell you about it.

What was your favorite part?  Do you like the main character or not?  What was the main challenge in the book?  Did the characters sort it out or fix it by the end?

In regards to spending time with children, a friend recently said, “One of my favorite things is to listen to my kids’ ideas… their questions… and stories about their day.”

What a sweet notion.  To have a sole interest in just listening to what a child’s idea about anything is.  The very smallest moments of our experience.

This same mother began working on a Summer Idea Jar with her children.

She shares her ideas:

• Start a summer idea jar
• Play a board game
• Make some music!
• Play in the sandbox
• Play piano
• Play guitar
• Help cook / bake
• Play on the swingset / hideout
• Do a puzzle
• Dress in costume
• Color a picture
• Dance party !
• Build with blocks
• Read a book
• Build with lego
• Ride your bike
• Play in the play kitchen
• Play cashier
• Make chalk art
• Blow bubbles
• Learn about bugs
• Do a nature walk
• Summer scavenger hunt. :)
• Play baseball
• Build a train track
• Help plan a field trip
• Make a friendship bracelet
• Go to the library
• Play tag outside
• Spell words with magnetic letters
• Write a postcard to a family member or friend
• Play - Doh !
• Think of a way to make someone’s day
• Play “I Spy”
• Do a puppet show
• Write a story
• Draw hopscotch on the sidewalk
• Draw a track for the scooter on the sidewalk
• Run through the sprinkler
• Teach someone how to tie their shoe
• Teach someone how to whistle

Another mother, in law enforcement and child services, describes very literal, intentional reasons for bonding with children and supporting children.

She says, “Scheduling quality time with your child is one of the greatest gifts that you can offer.  Not only will it reduce the likelihood of them engaging in at-risk behaviors, but it can stimulate meaningful communication, deepen your parent-child bond and model healthy family rituals and/or values.

She shares her list of engaging activities to do with children:

• Prepare a family tree
• Color together
• Teach/share a hobby
• Garden
• Paint rocks
• Play Miniature golf
• Go fishing
• Visit a local farmer’s market
• Take a Pottery/Paint class
• Visit a pick your own fruit farm event (apples, berries, peaches)
• Attend a professional/local ball game
• Go through a photo album
• Interview one another
• Play games (bingo, 20 questions, would you rather?)

Let’s celebrate these amazing humans and learn alongside them and from them.  Let’s be present for them and allow ourselves to connect with them.  Be intentional about National Children’s Day, the way we are intentional about Father’s Day and Mother’s Day!

When we make a child’s day, we bring new confidence and excellence to the precious little people who are our future generation.

Happy National Children’s Day!

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