March 8th is International Women’s Day. It is a time for us to celebrate the women in our lives, whether trailblazers in society or loving family members. March is also Women’s History Month, which makes it the perfect time to educate young children about gender equality and the achievements of inspirational women.
Are you wondering how to get your toddlers to celebrate with you? At Vivvi, we’ve put together three of the best International Women’s Day activities that you can do with your kids from the comfort of your own home, on International Women’s Day or anytime.
International Women’s Day for Kids: Let’s Celebrate!
People have been celebrating International Women’s Day around the globe since 1911. It’s a holiday that encourages us to promote women’s rights and acknowledge those women that have made a difference in our lives. It’s also a great time to talk about iconic women throughout history such as Anne Frank, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, and many others.
While young children likely can’t grasp the concept of gender equality, they can learn how to appreciate, encourage, and celebrate the women in their lives. International Women’s Day is a beautiful opportunity to help children build compassion, resilience, and awareness.
Three International Women’s Day Activities for Kids
International Women’s Day activities for kids should be fun, exciting, engaging, and inspiring. After all, this is a day for celebrating! Here are three of our favorite activities and games for getting young children involved in the festivities.
1. Read About Famous Women
When it comes to celebrating International Women’s Day with kids, one good place to start is to read about those women who strived for a better future for all. Dream Big Little One by Vashti Harrison is a great board book filled with inspiring black women from history; or check out the Little Feminist Board Book Set which includes women pioneers, artists, leaders and activists. All of these books do a great job engaging young kids through colorful illustrations and graphics.
If you want to add an activity to your reading adventure, we love to follow up Little People, Big Dreams: Amelia Earhart by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with a paper airplane DIY. Toddlers and preschoolers will love learning about this iconic American pilot, and then creating their very own airplane to take flight!
2. Draw a Picture of an Inspirational Woman
Another way to get toddlers and preschoolers involved in International Women’s Day celebrations is to let them get creative. Grab some art supplies (paints, crayons, colored pencils, etc.) and ask them to draw a picture of one of their female heroes.
A simple picture of their sister or grandmother is a lovely idea for toddlers, or if your child is a little older, encourage them to draw a famous woman from history or a character from their favorite book series.
3. Watch a Female-Led Movie
There are so many great movies for kids with strong female leads, and International Women’s Day is a great time for a viewing party. Disney and Pixar have led the way in highlighting strong and inspirational female characters in children’s movies, with fan favorites like Encanto, Moana, Brave, and Mulan. These movies have clear educational messages about courage, perseverance, self-belief, and diversity, and they’re ideal for children of all ages.
(You can check out our blog post on the top educational movies for preschoolers for more movie recommendations.)
At Vivvi, we love getting children excited about great moments and events, but believe that sharing diverse stories and experiences with your children matters throughout the year. . Get in touch with our team today for more information on how our early learning program supports your child as they reach their developmental milestones.