National Son and Daughter Day, August 11, 2020: How to Celebrate It

August 11 of every year is celebrated as National Son and Daughter Day. Well, Mom and Dad have their special day, so why not the kids, right? As a matter of fact, it was this very same question that a little boy in St. Joseph, Missouri, in the 1930s asked of J. Henry Dusenberry that eventually led to National Son and Daughter Day. The day was celebrated sporadically between then and the end of the 1960s. In 1970, it caught the attention of Congress when House member Rep. Claude Pepper (D-Fl.) put it to them to officially recognize the day. Today, August 11 commemorates the importance of the parent-child bond with this special day. So, what are you going to do this National Son and Daughter Day? Here are some ideas that are COVID-19-friendly and will keep you and your children safe while having the time of your life.

Have a Small Private Picnic

If your kids are young, you can thrill them with a special picnic event at a nearby field or picnic spot. You can even do it in your backyard or balcony depending on where you live and how crowded it might be outside. Pack some of their favorite lunch items and beverages and have a day of it. It's a great opportunity to get them talking about personal stuff that you normally won't get out of them at dinner! Use it as an opportunity to bond with them and learn more about what they like and dislike. Open up about your own dreams and wishes. It's a no-holds-barred day for positivity and love.

Order In

If you're busy, just order in from their favorite Chinese or pizza place and have a nice, long meal at home. Talk about how their summer was and what they look forward to when they go back to school. This would be a good opportunity to explain to them what's happening in the world right now and why they need to stay safe and indoors until the threat of the virus is over. Don't scare them, but don't sugar-coat it, either. Let them know it's very dangerous to go out without proper protection, especially for children. And give them hope that people all over the world are working very hard to bring things back to normal. Again, don't paint a dismal picture about the future but DO be realistic about the prospects of living in such an environment.

Get Them Special Gifts

You can also celebrate an early mini-Christmas with small gifts for them to open after dinner. Money is tight for everyone these days so don't overdo it. Just pick up a few toys they'll enjoy. If you have more than one child, you can consider buying gifts that they can share, like board games or sporting equipment they can use at home or in the yard. You can also consider making them their favorite foods on this special day. Mom's lasagna or Dad's yummy mac and cheese might really hit the sweet spot for them and let them know that something's great about this day.

The Most Valuable Gift for National Son and Daughter Day - and Every Other Day!

What's more important than any of these things is that you give them your time for as much of the day as possible. Most kids aren't into "stuff"; they just want some attention from their parents. Sadly, that's the most valuable commodity for parents and the hardest thing to gift their children. If you can make an exception and push back some of the less important things on your plate, they'll remember National Son and Daughter Day for a long time after the day itself is gone and forgotten. Well, until next year, at least.