Annually celebrated on August 4, Hooray for Kids Day focuses on children and their distinctive life perspectives. The unknown founders of this day likely intended everyone, including adults, to share in the happiness, innocence, and love that children bring to the world. They’re fearless, they don’t know how to hate, they find pleasure in the little things, and they’re as curious as a cat, which is why this day encourages everyone to shout “hooray!” for all the children in your life and the world.
The background of Hooray for Kids Day
Throughout history, children have been revered and even worshipped, but did you know that children were once legally regarded as mini-adults? In Mediaeval Europe and other parts of the world, the concept that children could possess a distinct identity or be entitled to a unique set of rights was nonexistent. While infants were cherished, the common law required that they be regarded primarily as adults.
In the 1600s, with the rise of the middle class, this image transformed. This new family unit expanded globally, particularly in countries such as Holland and England, and with it came a new concept of ‘childhood.’ During this time, not only were children’s rights a hot topic, but people also developed novel theories regarding childrearing. Particularly influential was John Locke’s “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” in which he defined children’s minds as “blank slates” that are then filled in by the various sensory experiences they have beginning at birth.
Books and thinkers of the seventeenth century viewed childhood as a brief period of relative safety and tranquilly preceding the tribulations of maturity. Locke’s theories acquired ground and favour among thinkers and educators in this and subsequent centuries. Based on his theories, multiple children’s textbooks were created, which meant they contained child-appropriate text and images and were simpler to comprehend. Additionally, numerous games, novellas, short stories, and poems were written specifically for this young audience.
However, industrialization and population growth drove many people into poverty, resulting in an increase in the number of children in the workforce. Even before these periods, child labour was prevalent, but factories and mines exposed children to hazardous working conditions and exploitative practises.
As a result of the conflict between child labour conditions and the image of childhood as depicted by many prominent educationists, the first battles for the legal protection of children were fought. Gradually, children were required to attend education, effectively removing them from the labour force. Dolls, action figures, and other children’s toys were now mass-produced, reinforcing childhood as a time of joy and play.
As nations around the world modernised, they adopted the modern concept of children and childhood. Today, children are recognised for who they truly are: beautiful, innocent spirits brimming with joy, laughter, and a touch of mischief.
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YAY FOR CHILDREN’S DAY ACTIVITIES
Celebrate children
Spend the day with your own or other children. Indulge them in all of their favourite activities, take them to kid-friendly events, and above all, just spend time talking with them. More than any other, the last one makes them feel special and develops their voice.
Act like an infant for a day
Recalling one’s youth is not always undesirable. Embrace your inner child and appreciate all the activities you disregard because they are considered childish. Remember to set aside some time each day to let your inner child have his day.
Protect the futures of minors
If we want children to continue believing in the world and in adults, we must safeguard their aspirations and their homes. There are numerous methods to assist children, including advocating for their rights, joining a children’s advocacy organisation, and volunteering at a local orphanage.
5 OUTRAGEOUS FACTS ABOUT CHILDREN AND THEIR EARLY YEARS
By the time a child reaches the age of six, nearly 90 percent of his or her brain has already developed, making early childhood education crucial.
This is due to the fact that our minds only evolved to be able to read around 5,000 years ago, which is considered ‘early’ in evolutionary terms.
Using a slow cadence, rhythm, and melodic speech with infants improves their language comprehension, assuming you are not speaking gibberish.
They use both hands until they begin to demonstrate a preference, which typically occurs between 18 months and six years of age.
This is why young children can play the piano, acquire two or more languages, and perform basic maths much more quickly than adults.
HOORAY FOR KIDS DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | August 4 | Friday |
2024 | August 4 | Sunday |
2025 | August 4 | Monday |
2026 | August 4 | Tuesday |
2027 | August 4 | Wednesday |