Children's Day is established on the second Sunday of June of each year to honor Alaska children and to promote their value and well-being in our communities. This year, the big day to celebrate kids is Sunday, June 8.
Together, let’s highlight all the joy children bring to our lives and take time to give them the recognition they deserve – start by asking a child in your life how they want to be celebrated or check out the ideas below!
Ways to celebrate:
1) Float it Forward!
Donors are not just supporters—they’re navigators of change, helping Alaska’s kids and families avoid rough waters through early, proactive support. Just as it takes intention and support to float a paper boat upstream, it takes early action, community care, and sustained support to prevent harm before it occurs in the lives of children and families.
2) Create a “Time Capsule” Together
Time for some quality time! Ask your child or a child in your life to gather small items that represent their favorite things right now—drawings, a list of songs they love, a letter to their future self, or even a toy or photo. Add your own note about what you love most about them at this age. Tuck it away to open next year on Children’s Day. It’s a fun way to reflect, connect, and remind them how much they’re growing.
3) Do a “Helper Hunt” in Your Community
Go on a walk or drive and point out people who help your community thrive—like crossing guards, bus drivers, gardeners, or store clerks. Talk about what makes a good helper, then encourage your child to thank someone with a smile, wave, or homemade thank-you card. It’s a great way to teach empathy and recognize the support systems all around us.
4) A couple more ideas for fun activities together:
do a cultural or community activity together- helping your child/ teen connect to where they’re from or where their family is from helps them find a sense of place and identify even more adults that care for them in their community
go bowling, ice skating, roller blading, on a bike ride, or to the batting cages - get some exercise, ramp up the friendly competition, and find an activity you can continue to do together that you both love
bake or do arts and crafts - learning a new recipe together (or showing your child a family recipe) is a great opportunity to bond, as is letting your creative talents unleash! Exposing kids to new activities is a rewarding and important part of being a caring adult, and sometimes the recipes that turn out the worst have the best stories - and most smiles - behind them