November |
| 1 | National Family Literacy Day | Celebrate this day by reading together after dinner. Pick a favorite family book and take turns reading it out loud. Visit www.famlit.org for more information on the day. |
| 2 | Digital Scrapbooking Day | Preserve your family memories by uploading any digital photos you have. Have your child help you write captions for each photo. |
| 3 | National Sandwich Day | Make your favorite sandwiches (maybe even for breakfast) and then, using cookie cutters or just a knife, cut them into letter shapes. |
| 4 | Walk Like an Egyptian | The entrance to King Tut’s tomb was discovered on this day in 1922. Visit the library or look online for more information on Egypt and pyramids. |
| 5 | Drum Month | Kids love drumming! Use a hardcover book (or pots, if you’re up for the noise!) and make a beat. Then start reciting the alphabet, saying a letter with each beat. |
| 6 | More Drum Month | Using a makeshift drum like you did yesterday, make a beat and decide on a category like animals, food, or colors. You or your child start by saying the name of something in that category (like “zebra”) and the other person says the name of something else in the category (like “monkey”). If it takes more than five beats to think of something, you’re out! |
| 7 | Child Safety and Protection Month | Make signs that say “hot” or “sharp” with your child to put on things that could be dangerous, like stoves or knives. Tape the signs above the area together and talk about why it’s dangerous. |
| 8 | More Child Safety and Protection Month | Talk about different safety-related items with your child, like helmets for bikes, seat belts for cars, and oven mitts for hot items. |
| 9 | More Child Safety and Protection Month | With your child, make a list of safety rules for your house and car, like “don’t climb on a wobbly chair to reach something up high” or “be careful with scissors.” What rules does your child think are important? Remind him of ones he has forgotten. |
| 10 | Sesame Street Anniversary | Sesame Street premiered on this day 1969. Visit pbskids.org/sesame for games and activities! |
| 11 | Veterans Day | With the help of an encyclopedia or the Internet, explain to your child what Veterans Day is and why we celebrate it. |
| 12 | National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovy Day | This day calls for ordering a pizza! Also take time to read a pizza menu with your child and talk about all the different words associated with pizza: dough, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and yes, even anchovies. |
| 13 | World Kindness Day | For World Kindness Day, help you child write (or even draw) something nice about each member of the family and slip the note somewhere where they’ll find it by surprise. |
| 14 | National Young Readers Day | Let your child read whatever he wants today, from the comics to the back of a cereal box. The only rule is just to read! |
| 15 | America Recycles Day | Make a point of recycling as much as possible today, and explain what you’re doing to your child, especially pointing out different items that are plastic, aluminum, cardboard, or newspaper. |
| 16 | Teddy Bear Day | Visit the library to read classic bear books like “Paddington,” a “Berenstain Bear” book, and “Winnie-the-Pooh.” |
| 17 | World Peace Day | Paper cranes are a symbol of peace. Recognize this day by checking out “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” if you have children in upper elementary school or older. |
| 18 | American Education Week | This week is held the third full week in November. Celebrate by meeting or talking with your child’s teacher, caregiver, or anyone else who plays a part in teaching your child. |
| 19 | Pencil Day | This day celebrates the pencil, which was invented in 1895. Give your child a freshly sharpened pencil and help him practice writing the letters of the alphabet. If your child isn’t old enough to do that, have him draw in his own way. |
| 20 | Universal Children’s Day | This day promotes unity and welfare for all children of the world. Learn about different cultures with the “World Alphabets” series or “The Skin You Live In” by Michael Tyler. |
| 21 | World Hello Day | With your child, say hello to 10 people today, either by speaking to them or by sending a note. |
| 22 | More Hello Day | Think of how many ways you can think of to say hello, like hi, hey, bonjour, hola, etc. |
| 23 | National Family Week | This week is always held the week of Thanksgiving. Start the week of by picking a book — a little longer than usual — to read to the whole family. Read a chapter or two each night together before bed. |
| 24 | More Family Week | Take some time with your child to write short notes or photos with “captions” written on the back to family members. Include neighbors or friends who you’re especially close to. |
| 27 | National Family Caregivers Week | Is there someone in your family who takes care of everyone else, or an aging or ailing parent? Have your child send them a sweet card to let them know they’re appreciated. Help your child decide what to say and how to write it. |
| 25 | Pre-Thanksgiving | Tomorrow is the big day. Have your child help you write a menu for the meal, and talk about different parts of the meal, like appetizers, side dishes, main courses, and dessert. |
| 26 | Thanksgiving | What is your child most grateful for this year? Talk about it together, and then write it down in a list. Have your child decorate it with pictures. |
| 28 | More Thanksgiving | Instead of hitting the mall, go to the library and check out books about Thanksgiving and pilgrims like “’Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving” by Dav Pilkey or “The Thanksgiving Story” by Alice Dalgliesh. |
| 29 | More Thanksgiving | In honor of Thanksgiving and National American Indian Heritage Month, learn more with your child about the early Thanksgiving celebrations between Pilgrims and Native Americans. Try reading “Eating the Plates: A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners” by Lucille Recht Penner or “Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message” by Jake Swamp. |
| 30 | More Thanksgiving | Still working on leftovers? Sit down with your child and get creative about what new foods you can make with turkey and other leftovers, like soup or potato bread. |
