5 Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day with Kids

 

There are so many engaging and fun ways to celebrate International Women’s Day with kids. We’ve collected together a few ideas.

 

International Women’s Day. What is it all about? I imagine that it has a different meaning to different women around the world.

 

Being a woman in the world today can be liberating and powerful on one hand and restrictive and oppressive on the other. It’s all about perspective. I interpret International Women’s Day to be a day to gain some valuable perspective. It is easy to stay focused on our corner of the world. Our days are filled with playdates, carpools and appointments…our vision is narrowed.

 

On International Women’s Day we shift our vision and broaden our perspective, in the hopes of gaining a greater understanding of the lives of women around the world. Here are 5 simple things you can do to engage and educated your children on this important day.

 

Reach out to the oldest woman (women) your children know. It might be a grandmother, a teacher or maybe it is you. Women are full of amazing stories…we are natural story tellers.

Ask these 3 questions…

It is time to explore a plethora of amazing women. Whether through fiction or non-fiction, children learn through reading. Here are a few books, with a Canadian slant, to start with.

Something Out of Nothing  by Carla Killough McClafferty, Farrar, Straus & Giroux The story of Marie Curie – the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (she actually won two). Learn about the challenges she faced as a young woman who wanted to become a scientist.

Check out this collection of amazing books for International Women’s Day. You’ll find books for kids of all ages.

Go online

If you can’t make it out to the library head online and explore these great resources for information on women of influence.

International Women’s Day (official website) Discover the different events and initiatives taking place in your area and around the world. The theme for International Women’s Day changes each year. What is the this year’s theme?

A Mighty Girl A fabulous website filled with inspiring stories about girls and women around the world and throughout history. Very engaging for young readers.

Because I am a Girl  Plan Canada’s site specifically addressing issues around poverty that impact girls internationally.

Grab the cookbook and the craft paper

Recognize and acknowledge women in your life. Bake some cookies and write a note sharing how you appreciate a particular woman in your life and your child’s life. Children are always watching how we behave, your actions speak louder than words. Share a homemade gift with an important woman in your life – the crossing guard, the teacher, the police officer or letter carrier. 

Self reflection

Many times what stops us from achieving our goals is our own self doubt. Issues with self esteem start at a very early age. Have your daughters, and sons, draw a self portrait and write a few lines about themselves. What are their strengths? What do they love about themselves? What do they want to be when they grow up? Who is their hero and why?

When they are all done, read it and then put it away until next International Women’s Day. Pull it out next year and create another one. Turn this into an annual tradition and see how your child changes over the years. While you are at it, do one for yourself.

These are just a few ways you can make International Women’s Day more meaningful to your children. Don’t worry about cramming all of this into one day. Make time in your day-to-day life to think about the path that girls and women have had to tread to get to where they are today and the many challenges women are still battling.

How will you be celebrating International Women’s Day this year?

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