National Kids Day is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of June in the U.S. This year, it will fall on June 8. This day addresses the importance of children in society and the numerous challenges that some still face in different aspects of their lives. This observation aims to improve children’s welfare, invest in their future, and address mental and physical health issues they may be dealing with. The day also reminds otherwise busy parents to spend time with their kids and makes them realize the importance of spending some precious moments.
History of National Kids Day
National Kids Day has been celebrated in the U.S. since the 1800s, although there have been variations in deciding the date and day on which it will be celebrated. Ever since 1857, there have been changes in the dates of celebration.
Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard was the first to establish Children’s Day in 1857 on the second Sunday of June and named the day Rose Day. Leonard was the pastor of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and organized the day to hold a special service dedicated to, and for children, including baptizing them. The name was later changed from Rose Day to Flower Sunday, and then eventually called Children’s Day.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton changed the date to October 8 and established it as National Children’s Day. This was later followed by President George Bush proclaiming that the first Sunday of June should be celebrated as National Children’s Day.
However, in 2009, Pat Quinn, the Governor of Illinois, proclaimed that National Children’s Day will be celebrated on the second Sunday of June every year — and that’s how it has been since then. Many other nations celebrate the rights of children on November 20, which is the day nominated by the United Nations. November 20 is considered an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. On the same date in 1989, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Since 1990, World Children’s Day also marked the anniversary of the date that the U.N. General Assembly adopted both the Declaration as well as the Convention on children’s rights.
National Kids Day timeline
Children's Day begins on the second Sunday of June when Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, pastor of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea, Massachusetts, holds a special service for children.
International Children's Day is first observed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare.
UN General Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
President Clinton establishes October 8 as National Children's Day.
Quinn, Governor of Illinois, proclaims that National Children's Day will be celebrated annually on the second Sunday of June.
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See MoreNational Kids Day FAQs
How was International Children’s Day created?
The origin of the official International Children’s Day can be traced back to 1925. Representatives from different countries met in Switzerland to host the first World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children. World Children’s Day, on the other hand, was established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote global togetherness, and awareness among children worldwide, and to improve their welfare.
Which countries celebrate Children’s Days?
Many countries including Canada and New Zealand hold Universal Children’s Day events on November 20. Some countries like the United States and India also hold it on different days.
What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
This Convention is an international legal framework stating that children are human beings and individuals with their rights.
What do you say to a child on National Children’s Day
On this day, you can say a ‘Happy Children’s Day!’ The idea is to celebrate the innocence and purity of our kids.
National Kids Day Activities
Spend time with your kids
Devote the whole day to enjoying fun activities with your kids. Plan a picnic with the family or have a wholesome day at home where you paint, sing, play, and dance together. If you don’t have your kids, think about reaching out to your nieces and nephews to bond with them!
Raise awareness
Share information about the day, what it stands for, and news about events on your social media accounts so more people can learn and get involved. There are a lot of children in the U.S. and around the world going through tough times who could use a hand.
A blast from the past
Relive the good old days by listening to your favorite music and watching all the movies you enjoyed growing up. You could also get in touch with your old friends and have a great time catching up.
5 Facts You Didn’t Know About About Children In The U.S.
Child illiteracy
Around 34% of students are below basic reading level in the fourth grade.
There’s still work to be done
Some 4.5 million young adults, between the ages of 16 and 24, are not in school or working.
Disadvantaged backgrounds
About 22% of children in the United States live in poverty and some 80% of them will lose reading skills over summer breaks.
Rampant obesity
Among children and adolescents between the ages of two and 19 years old, the prevalence of obesity was 19.3%, affecting around 14.4 million people between 2017 and 2018.
Cyberbullying is common
According to some studies, around 59% of teens in the U.S. have been bullied or harassed online.
Why We Love National Kids Day
Children are the future
Our future depends on these young ones and we must ensure we’re providing the best for them. This includes doing our best to ensure children grow into healthy well-adjusted adults, as well as providing better opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
It allows us to spend more time with kids
It can be hard to fit some meaningful quality time with kids in our busy schedules today. National Children’s Day reminds us of the need to slow down, take it easy and remember that our families will always be more important than everything else.
It helps children
Having a day dedicated to them and knowing they are appreciated can be the confidence boost a lot of children need to do well and live life to the fullest. It also gives children a sense of importance and responsibility.
National Kids Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | June 12 | Sunday |
| 2023 | June 11 | Sunday |
| 2024 | June 9 | Sunday |
| 2025 | June 8 | Sunday |
| 2026 | June 14 | Sunday |
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