There are so many engaging and fun ways to celebrate International Women's Day with kids. Along with our collection of great International Women's Day books for kids, we have put together some inspiring activities to do with kids on International Women's Day.
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What is International Women's Day?
The first International Women's Day was way back in 1911. IWD is a day to celebrate women's accomplishments - economic, political, social, cultural, and more. Each IWD is also an opportunity to reflect on how we can improve conditions for women around the world. I imagine that it has a different meaning for 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 simple things you can do to engage and educate your children on this important day.
Celebrating International Women's Day with Kids
Start with who and what you know
Reach out to the oldest woman (women) your children know. It might be a grandmother, a neighbour, a teacher or maybe it is you. Women are full of amazing stories...we are natural storytellers.
Ask these 3 questions...
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
- Who was your childhood hero?
- What do you remember most about being a little girl?
You might be surprised to see where these questions lead.
Best Children's Books for International Women's Day
It is time to explore the stories of amazing women. Whether through fiction or non-fiction, children learn so much through reading books.
Check out this complete collection of amazing books for International Women's Day. You'll find International Women's Day books for kids of all ages.
Books About Women in Science
Or, have a read through the stories of these books about women in science. Meet all the incredible female scientists who have left their mark on the history of science.
Best Read Aloud Books for International Women's Day
Check out this collection of awesome read aloud books to read on International Women's Day. A wide variety of fiction and non-fiction stories of women who have overcome challenges pursued their dreams, and made a difference. Read-alouds are great for early readers and young learners - in the classroom or at bedtime too.
International Women's Day Printable Activities for Kids
Discover the stories of 20 historic Canadian Women with our printable fact sheet. We share the names and the stories of 20 inspiring women who left their mark on Canadian history. From artists to politicians and astronauts - you get all the facts and a plan for how to put those facts to use with your children or students.
After you've read some books and learned the stories of remarkable women it's time to get creative. Print our International Women's Day Worksheet for kids and have your students or child, highlight a woman who inspires them. Whether the woman is real or fictional, someone they know or someone they met in the pages of a book - this is a creative way to acknowledge an awesome woman.
International Women's Day Games
International Women's Day Games - I've created a fun collection of Women's Day games to print and play. We have a crossword puzzle, word search, and word jumble because I love word games and they are great for home or the classroom.
Creative International Women's Day Worksheets
Print and colour our 3 International Women's Day colouring pages that feature inspirational quotations from some remarkable women. Another creative way to celebrate the day.
International Women's Day Bookmarks for Kids
You can also get crafty with our inspirational coloring bookmarks for International Women's Day. Print off the bookmarks and have fun coloring in the designs. Take inspiration from the quotations we've included. Don't forget to add your own message to the blank bookmark. Will you add a quotation or another design?
Online International Women's Day Resources for Kids
If you can't make it out to the library head online and explore these great online 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 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.
Cook a Family Recipe for International Women's Day
Recognize and acknowledge the women in your life. Women are the first to nourish their children and we continue feeding others throughout our lives. Have some fun baking cookies or baking bread or preparing a meal for others. Write a note, sharing how you appreciate a particular woman (or women) in your life and your child's life. Children are always watching how we behave, your actions speak louder than words. If you have a favorite family recipe, why not make it? My grandmother was the queen of baking pies. Whenever I bake a pie I think about my grandmother...plus I get to enjoy a delicious pie when I'm done!
International Women's Day Craft Projects
If baking and cooking aren't your strengths, perhaps crafting is for you. Make and share a homemade gift with an important woman in your life - the crossing guard, the teacher, the police officer, or the letter carrier. How wonderful to make a helpful gift for a woman in your life.
Make DIY International Women's Day Pins
Here's a cool International Women's Day craft project for tweens and teens. Make your own IWD pins using shrinky dink paper. Personalize the message you write and create a design you love. These are great to share with your friends, teachers or coaches.
Build a Jigsaw Puzzle
Build a jigsaw puzzle of amazing women. I love Ridley's Inspirational Women Circular Jigsaw Puzzle. We picked this puzzle up last year and added it to our IWD list of activities. I love how it provides little snippets about each and every woman. It's fun to build and learn at the same time.
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 - these are the perfect activities for Women's History Month or 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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Mandi says
Aw, this is so nice! I don't know if this is bad but I didn't even know there was a Woman's Day. I love any opportunity to bake some treats and spend some time with the lovely ladies in my life, so I'll be happy to do that!
Lovingmama says
Oh nooo... I am a day behind on this. My Russian family celebrates this more prominently than we do here and now I feel like a bad daughter-in-law for not congratulating her and celebrating her. My hubbie just said that she sent me a very sweet e-mail yesturday congratulating me and my daughter. BUMMER. Will have to send lots of cute kids pictures to her this week =) She is such an amazing women. I think it is great that many countries take a moment to value the roles of men and women. It is important that all people feel appreciated and this is just one way to do this.
Stacy of KSW says
Thanks for this post, I did not even realize it was International Women's Day. I'm glad you found some great ways to share this with your child