If you’ve never heard of Universal Children’s Day then you’re in for a real treat this year. The holiday is designed to celebrate the joy that children bring to the world and to show them how important it is for them to just be children for the time being. Although the holiday is often celebrated at different times around the globe, this year November 20 has been dedicated as a day to recognize children globally. Don’t worry though, because this holiday doesn’t mean you need to go out and spend a fortune on your children. Rather, you can keep your holiday budget safe and sound by following a few frugal tips to make your children feel happy and appreciated without the big price tag.
1. Reminisce
Spending time with your children is always great and can warm your heart. However, for children’s day you may want to do something a little special for both of you. For instance, a great way to show them how much you’ve loved them is to pull out the old baby things, like the baby book. Share special memories with them that they won’t be able to recall and show them their milestones. This will help your children realize how much you admire them and want them to do their best in life. You can even ask them questions or see if they have questions for you. If you have home movies from when they were young, then show off those too. Kids will adore watching themselves learn and grow before their very eyes.
2. Write a Letter
Universal Children’s Day may be the perfect time to begin writing letters to your child every year. You can start by talking about how much you care for them, what they have achieved and what you hope for them in the future. The letters can be long or short, depending on your comfort level and can even be filled with drawings, poems or photographs. You can choose whether or not you want to give the letters to your child right away. You may want to put them away until the child turns 18 and then present it as a coming of age gift. Or, you could take the time to read the letter to your child and then put it away for them to revisit when they’re older. No matter what you choose to do, make sure you put your heart into it so your children will know just how important their childhood was to you.
3. Restaurant Outing
If you want to do something special with the children, then you might want to make plans to go to a restaurant on this holiday. You might want to choose a place that is child friendly though, particularly restaurants that allow kids to get up and play games. If you can, let the children have some input on the choice; however, if there is too much sibling bickering then you may want to avoid the option altogether. Try not to choose a location that is too expensive though, as you don’t need to go overboard this close to the holiday season. If you do want to make each child feel special, then have them choose numbers. The first number can choose the first restaurant and so on. You can span this out throughout the week or month to ensure each child gets their special day.
4. Budget a Savings Plan
Starting a savings plan for your child can be one of the most important things you can do for your little one. If you haven’t already started a savings account for your child, then Universal Children’s Day is the perfect time to start. You can easily start by doing a little research on various savings accounts. There are even some programs that will keep your child’s savings account locked until they turn a certain age. After you research, do a little work with your finances to see what you can put into the account each year. You don’t have to invest a whole lot each month, especially If the interest is high. You can also set certain terms for the plan. For instance, you can set it up for college, a car or even the down payment on a home. Once you get the account up and running, you can share it with your child or keep it a secret. Either way, you can rest assured knowing they have a nest egg that will benefit their future and show your appreciation for them.
5. Visit a Children’s Hospital
Many children spend their days stuck in a hospital, which makes their lives lonely and uncomfortable. If you want to do something special on Children’s Day then head to a children’s hospital or a children’s unit in a local hospital and visit with the children. Most will be excited to have someone come in and talk to them. Recently, there has been a trend of people who have decided to dress up as popular cartoon characters and superheroes to help cheer up the kids. This is an easy option and can make the visit even more memorable for you and the children. If you don’t want to dress up, then consider bringing books or games to help keep the children entertained. You may even consider buying second hand books or crafting gifts to help lift the children’s spirits while they spend their time healing.
6. Join Big Brother/Sister Program
Not all children have someone to dote on them on Children’s Day, or on a regular basis. If you don’t have children or you simply want to make a difference in the life of a child in your community, then you may want to consider joining the Big Brother/Sister Program. This program pairs you with a boy or girl in your community that needs a little extra attention. Often, these children come from single parent families or live with parents who have to work often to make ends meet. You’ll be given a list of interests that your new sibling enjoys, so you can cater to their needs. You may find the volunteer work to be one of the best things you’ve ever done. Not to mention, you will change the life of the child you are paired with. With a little compassion, you may find you set a child up on a path to success, which is one of the best things to celebrate on Children’s Day.
7. Donate
When it comes to making a difference on Children’s Day, the best thing you can do is donate money if you planned on spending anyway. There are a lot of great children’s charities available to choose from too. By doing this, you will show that you appreciate not only your children, but the children of the world. You can choose a charity based on your own values or personal interests. For instance, if you have had someone in your family pass away or fight off cancer, then you might want to donate to a children’s hospital foundation. There are also fundraisers to help children get the food they need to grow up strong and healthy. You can even think further and send money to a charity that sends girls to school in third world countries. If you don’t want to donate food then go through your pantries, wardrobes and toy bins and donate the items you no longer need or want. These items can go to children in need, which is sure to help out. Make sure you do your research though, as not all charities are looking to spend your money wisely.
8. Learn About Celebrations Around the World
Children’s Day isn’t exactly the most celebrated holiday in this country yet, but it could make its way up the chart soon. This means that many people don’t know exactly what is going on when it comes to celebrating the holiday. One way to start out the celebration is to learn how different cultures celebrate. In other countries, like China and Australia, Children’s Day is actually a major holiday that involves lots of different ways to make children realize the importance of their childhood days. There’s lots of research on the topic as well as games, foods and other entertainment that you can utilize into your own celebration. You may find this holiday to be one of the best times to improve your knowledge of culture while broadening your horizons through trying out the varied tradition.
9. Channel Your Childhood
Let’s face it, childhood is a lot different today than it was when you were young. That’s why you may want to take children’s day to show your children what it was like to be a child when you were young. You can show off your favorite games and compare them to pass times that your children currently enjoy. You can even share childhood memories or talk about your favorite childhood TV shows, books and movies. If you’re really feeling like exploring childhood further, you can bring up games your parents taught you. This will show the kids that there are a lot more ways to have fun, especially when you take technology out of the equation. This will also show your children how important it is to make memories during childhood, because they will bring happiness throughout your adulthood.
10. Make Gifts
Children’s Day can be a great time to show your children how to have compassion for other children. You can do this by having the kids sit down and make crafts for children who are less fortunate. You can make simple toys to help keep children occupied if they don’t have toys of their own. There’s many great ideas online that will offer cheap ideas to get you started. You can also come up with cute gift baskets that will give needy children treats that they don’t often get. If you choose to make gifts then you can donate these directly to a charity, pass them out to children in the community or sell them and donate the money to a charity of your choice. By doing this, you will teach your children that all children should be celebrated and they should have compassion for those less fortunate. You may even ask your children to go through their closet and toy boxes to come up with gifts for children that you know need a little assistance.
Spending time with your children can be one of the best aspects of their childhood. Children’s Day will allow you to have fun with your kids while showing them just how important it is to celebrate their special time in life. These ten celebration ideas should put you on the right track to Children’s Day fun without forcing you to blow your holiday budget.
