Children's Day! The occasion celebrated on the 14th of November every year is one of the most lovable days. It is a celebration of cuteness, innocence, and youth. We all love to go back to our childhood days, don't we? Those were the days! Young, playful, carefree, and without any stress! The only tension was, "He broke my doll!" or "How to make a paper boat?" I cherish the time I had with my dolls. I still remember how we friends planned my doll's marriage. Then my friend on the groom's side got angry and broke the marriage. However, my other friend was gracious enough to bring her doll (Ken, the boy Barbie doll, remember). Childhood is so wonderful!

Children's Day is special. We grow old and get busy with our work and forget that our kids are still kids. They require our attention. They want us for company. Children's Day is a day when we can show them our love. We can pamper them and make them feel special! Have we ever thought what's the history behind Children's Day?

History of Children’s Day

Children's Day is celebrated annually to honor the children. However, every country has a different date to observe the occasion. We owe the celebration of Children's Day to Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, a pastor at the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He chose to celebrate the second Sunday of June in 1857 as the day for children. The service on that day was dedicated specially for children. It was called Rose Day. It then shifted to Flower day, and finally, it came to be known as Children's Day.

Later, the Republic of Turkey declared a national holiday on Children's Day on 23rd April 1920, and they celebrated it for children. They made an official declaration about it in 1929. The credit for its global adoption goes to Geneva, which witnessed the first proclamation of International Children's Day during a World Conference on children welfare in 1925. On 20th November 1959, the United Nations General Assembly decided to declare the Rights of the Child. This day is celebrated as World Children’s Day every year.

India also celebrated Children's Day along with the world on 20th November. After the death of our first Prime Minister, Pt. Nehru in 1964, they took a resolution in the parliament to mark 14th November, his Birth Anniversary, as Children's Day. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was very popular among the kids. It was the perfect tribute to his greatness. Thus, India celebrates Children’s Day on the 14th of November!

Significance of Children’s Day! 

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India. He was one of the leaders in the Indian Independence Movement and a very dear associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He was also one of the founders of the International Non-Aligned Movement, but it is his love for children that has earned him immense popularity. No wonder they love addressing him as ‘Chacha Nehru’.

He was very fond of children. He said, "Children are like Buds in a garden that should be carefully and lovingly nurtured as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow. Only through right education can a better order of the society be built up."

 He wanted the children to have fulfilled childhood and good education. Therefore, Children's Day is not just about Pt. Nehru's love for the children but is about their rights, care, and education. It is about how Panditji visualized modern India. We can see his philosophy in the letters he wrote to his young daughter Indira Gandhi. At the same time, "Glimpses of World History" is his gift of love for the children. The warmth and affectionate style of the book has appealed to many children. He has written many books and woven valuable information for children to reap rich benefits from them.  

Children’s Day Celebrations!

Children's Day Celebrations! Wow! It gives us so much happiness. Planning something for children is the best planning. It unites us all! The children are presented with gifts and chocolates, and entertaining programs are organized in schools to make children happy. The teachers get together and plan skits for children.   

This year we are somewhat down with the giant called Covid-19 hovering upon us, but we are not out. We can bring a smile to the faces of our children. The Internet has come to our rescue as our knight in shining armor. So we can do many things to make our children feel special. Like we can organize -   

• Zoom Class Party

• Octoburst - A Children Festival

• A minute to Win it Challenge

• Fancy Dress Competitions

• Picnics

The children will enjoy their day very much. They are always very excited to plan out things for us. This is our chance. So pick up your thinking hats!

Conclusion

Our children are where our heart is! In them resides our happiness. They are the ones who will take us into the future. So the onus is on us to give them good memories to cherish forever. As Panditji said, "They are the purest soul and take the shape the way we nurture them."  Happy Children’s Day.