On the second Sunday of June we recognize National Children’s Day, a day where we take a while to rewind to our carefree and untroubled past.

People are often so caught up in school, work, and technology that we rarely find time to slow down and refocus on the important and beautiful things in life.

Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard began Children’s Day on the second Sunday in June of 1857 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, although it is also celebrated in October (National Day Calendar). It involved a special service dedicated to addressing the needs of children.

“This day was initially Rose Day, and then it became known as Flower Day. Eventually, it would be called the name by which it’s called today, Children’s Day… It was celebrated in Turkey starting in 1920, and it was made a national holiday in 1929. In 1954, the United Nations established this as a worldwide holiday by establishing Universal Children’s Day. In 1959, the U.S adopted an extended form of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child” (holidayscalendar.com).

Who are the children in your life? Do you have younger brothers and sisters that you can celebrate? Would you consider inviting your nieces and nephews, or perhaps your cousins or young neighbors, to do an activity, start a tradition, or teach a new skill? While you might not have children of your own, that doesn’t mean you can’t start celebrating National Children’s Day this year and making it a regular holiday in your life.