The world marks United Nations Day on October 24 this year, celebrating 77 years of the international peace organization’s work for women, children, refugees, and the planet. What better time than to sit down with children and discuss the idea of global unity? And to note the importance of nations from all over the world coming together to ensure that all people have food, shelter, access to health care, and refuge in times of war.
Ideas for celebrating UN Day
There are as many ways to commemorate United Nations Day as there are people in the countries who belong to the organization. Engaging in conversations with your child about the areas the UN focuses on could lead to deep and meaningful discussions. For example, share this fact with your child: The United Nations feeds more than 90 million people worldwide yearly. Then, offer a question: How do they do that? What would help provide for that many people?
Celebrate your heritage and diversity
If your family came to the U.S. or the Seattle area from another country, consider wearing your national dress on United Nations Day, sharing a traditional dish from your country of origin with friends, or playing music from your homeland for yourself and others. From a family with many generations born in the U.S.? Consider your family’s broader heritage and find ways to celebrate and share it with others. You might even go the extra mile: host an international dinner with family or your circle of friends — each family member or friend bringing a dish from a different country.
Steward the environment
The United Nations is also very committed to protecting the environment. Ask your kids how your family can up your game on this front, and choose one or two new ideas to incorporate into your family routine. For example, commit to walking through your neighborhood once a week, picking up garbage, and ensuring recyclable materials go in the recycle bin.
Read the Children’s Rights
One of the best ways to connect kids with the work of the United Nations is to read aloud the organization’s “Convention on the Rights of the Child,” an agreement signed by countries that have promised to protect children’s rights. The document explains who children are, all their rights, and the responsibilities of governments. All the rights are connected, are equally important, and cannot be taken away from children. Talk about a great bedtime story!
Here’s the list of those 54 rights, graphically presented by the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
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