Archive for the "International" Category

In celebration of Chinese New Year have a family feast! Not sure what to cook? That’s okay. There are plenty of options. If you want to go the homemade route (versus ordering from a restaurant), you can cook a holiday meal based on some of the traditional favorites. These are easy enough for even your kids to help you with! Fish Dinner It’s thought that a New Year’s fish dish will bring prosperity in the next year. And, who doesn’t want that? Start with a whole fish (the whole fish symbolizes unity), and prepare it by steaming it with ginger...

December 3rd marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Each year this day focuses on one specific theme. In 2016 the theme is “Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want.” Mark this special day with a few themed activities that will help to teach your children about disabilities and being inclusive. Goal List Grab a marker, a crayon or a set of pencils and help the kids to create their own “17 Goals.” Talk about different disabilities and how your children (or their school, their community, society) can be more inclusive. Ask the kids to list out 17...

December 5th is International Volunteer Day! Celebrating this day gives you the chance to show your child how important helping others is. Obviously, not all children can volunteer. Or, at least, very young children may be restricted by their age. Volunteer opportunities such as serving homeless people at a community kitchen aren’t always options (organizations typically only allow older teens and adults to work with food prep and serving). So, what can your young child do to mark International Volunteer Day? Collect Food, warm clothes, blankets, toys. These are all items that many charitable organizations need. Whether it’s canned goods...

What’s the obvious activity choice for International Literacy Day? Read a book! That said, you (or your kids) don’t have to sit at home reading by yourself. Where can you take a book to on this special day? Check out these book-reading options that will make celebrating International Literacy Day even more fun! Go outside. Bring a book to the park. International Literacy Day is celebrated on September 8th. That’s means in most places, it’s still warm enough to go outside. Take your favorite read to a shady tree or a park bench. Spend the afternoon reading to the kids...

August 19th is World Humanitarian Day. While the concept may seem advanced for your young child to pick up on, you can help him to learn what a humanitarian is and how these very special people save, care for and shape the world. How? Through a children’s book or two! Check out these great reads for young kids on World Humanitarian Day. Who Was Mother Teresa? By Jim Gigliotti and Nancy Harrison. Elementary school-aged children can read about this famous humanitarian, her life and her work – in a way that’s entirely easy to understand. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led...

Every year on September 8th we celebrate International Literacy Day. Obviously, you want to read a book (or a few) to your child on this special day. But, what else can you do? Try a book-making arts and crafts activity! Materials: Cardboard or card stock paper Scissors A hole punch Construction paper Pipe cleaners or yarn Markers Instructions: Cut the cardboard or cardstock into an 8x10-inch or larger size. Size and cut the construction paper so that it’s slightly smaller than the cardboard or card stock. Put the paper on top of the cardboard/card stock. Use as many pieces of...

Celebrate International Youth Day with a few artsy activities! This holiday (held on August 12th) recognizes the accomplishments of young people. Help your child to get creative on this special day, making an imaginative artwork with a Youth Day theme. Check out these art activities for kids of all ages. You can adapt the project to fit your child’s age, developmental level and needs. Mighty Mural Roll out the butcher paper (or use solid, light-colored gift wrap) to make a background for a movable mural. Ask your child to draw a scene that features notable children from throughout history or...

What are your kids doing on World Friendship Day? Well, if you said spending time with friends – you’d have the obvious answer! Along with celebrating our BFF’s, this holiday also helps everyone to understand friendships in a global way. Take the opportunity that this special day gives to learn about friendships that cross borders. How? Understand Allies Start by asking your child what an ally is. If she can’t answer, help her to figure out the definition (she can look it up online or in a book). Now, take the discussion to a world-wide level. Do some research on...

August 12th is International Youth Day. Celebrate the young person in your life with a few family-fun events and activities! Also known as World Youth Day, this holiday acknowledges the accomplishments, successes and achievements of youth across the globe. So, what can you do to mark this day? Learn About Youth Athletes Your child is sporty to the max. She plays soccer, does gymnastics, skis, skates and is constantly on the go. Help her to understand that top athletes aren’t always adults. Do some library or Internet research on youth and teen athletes. Your child can read a biography or...

Started in 2009, Nelson Mandela International Day brings the message that every person can (and has the responsibility to) change the world for the better. Celebrating Mandela’s legacy, this holiday honors the idea of serving every day. Celebrating Mandela Day means taking action. This can fall under a number of different categories – including, food security, education and literacy, shelter and infrastructure and the environment. Whether you’re young or old, you (and your family) can mark this day with your own celebration. How? Pick a theme. What’s important to you? What about your family? Choose from the four main themes...