Dot Day

History of Dot Day

On September 15, 2003, author and illustrator of children’s books, Peter H. Reynolds released his book “The Dot.” In the story, Vashti felt like she couldn’t draw — but her art teacher wouldn’t accept that. “Just make a mark, and see where it takes you,” the teacher said to Vashti. So, she marked her parchment paper with a small dot. The next day, Vashti was surprised to find her paper with the dot on the classroom wall. Vashti was so proud of her work that she started creating drawings with different kinds of dots.

Eventually, Vashti was able to pass the lesson about confidence that she had learned from her teacher onto someone else. A dot might be small, but it’s a powerful way to show your unique individuality and creativity. And that’s the story that inspired International Dot Day.

“The Dot” has inspired millions of children and adults. It is used by teachers as a method to encourage creativity and instill confidence in students. One teacher in Iowa, Terry Shay, introduced the book to his entire classroom on September 15, 2009. This led to the observance of International Dot Day every year on September 15. The flow of creativity and courage is celebrated by millions of teachers and students around the world. Such is the widespread influence of “The Dot” that it is currently celebrated in 192 countries by more than 19 million people!

There is also a website by the name ‘The Dot Club,’ which serves as a free resource for downloadable material and printouts like an official certificate of participation.

Dot Day timeline

September 15, 2003

It Begins With a Dot

Peter H. Reynolds publishes his story “The Dot.”

2009

The Dot Spreads

International Dot Day officially launches after teacher Terry Shay introduces the book to his students.

2011

Reception of the Dot

Registrations for the observance of International Dot Day reach 17,500 throughout several states.

2013

The Dot Movement

Participation and involvement on International Dot Day peaks at 1.3 million participants in 84 countries.

Dot Day FAQs

When is Dot Day?

Dot Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, September 15. It’s a perfect mid-week opportunity to pause and unleash your creativity, whether at school, work, or home.

What is the story behind Dot Day?

Dot Day originated from Peter H. Reynolds’ 2003 children’s book, ‘The Dot.’ The story follows a girl named Vashti who, encouraged by her art teacher, discovers her creative potential by simply making a single dot on a piece of paper.

How many schools participate in Dot Day?

While exact numbers fluctuate annually, millions of students and educators in over 190 countries have participated in International Dot Day. It’s a truly global phenomenon, fostering creativity across diverse cultures and educational systems.

What is the main message of 'The Dot'?

The core message of ‘The Dot’ is about believing in yourself and having the courage to start, even with something as simple as a dot. It emphasizes that everyone is an artist and that creativity can be sparked from the smallest beginnings.

Dot Day Activities

Read "The Dot"

Peter H. Reynolds' storybook, "The Dot," is the book that started it all. Check it out for "the story of a girl who begins a journey of self-discovery after a caring teacher challenges her to 'make her mark.'"

Donate art supplies to a school

If it's within your means, your local school system may have an art program that could use your help. Consider donating unused office supplies or other things around your home as "found art" that students might want to explore for projects.

Paint a picture or write a poem

Get creative and make your own mark! There's no better way to celebrate International Dot Day than by reaching down into your own well of imagination and doing something artistic that reflects who you are. Even if you can't afford art supplies, you may have a program on your computer that lets you create digital art. Give it a try!

5 Science-Based Facts About Creativity

Conformity kills creativity

Conformity stifles creativity as it creates pressure to maintain a certain way of doing things.

The key to creativity is openness

In a study linking creative expression with openness, individuals possessing a free-flow mind reported the highest rates of creativity.

Creative people live longer

Creative minds have better ways to overcome hurdles in life and are more than likely to get more creative with age.

Positivity boosts creativity

An upset and unclear mind will weigh down the creative process and create less motivation.

Creative people tend to be independent

This is mostly subjective but traits commonly linked to creative people include independence, a sense of self-orientation, and dedication towards work.

Why We Love Dot Day

Dots are symbolic

Depending on how philosophical you'd like to get, a dot can represent nearly anything. We use them for punctuation, to convey when one thought ends and another begins.

Dots are building blocks

When you go down deep enough, every piece of art is just a different arrangement of dots as in the artistic technique, pointillism. But in our digital world, it's easy to see that every image is a collection of pixels, which when isolated, are merely a collection of individual, digital dots. Let's think of them as the "atoms" of the art world!