Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources can help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them.
Here is a list of resources for July observances.
Month-Long Observances
NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH
- City of Pittsburgh Department of Parks & Recreation, CitiParks
- Summer Program Guide, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
- Top Green Spaces and Public Parks in Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh
- Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature, Child Mind Institute
- Free Worksheet: Thank a Park Ranger Card, Education.com
- Become a Junior Ranger, National Park Service
- The Benefits of Outdoor Play: Why It Matters, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
NATIONAL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO CHILDREN MONTH
- Most Popular Pittsburgh Children & Youth Nonprofits and Charities, Great Nonprofits
- Positive Parenting, National Institute of Health
- The Power of Positive Parenting, UC Davis Health
- 10 Ways to Build a Strong Parent-Child Relationship, Emotionally Healthy Kids
- Bonding with Stepchildren: 7 Tips for Building a Strong Relationship, Care.com
- Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families, Harvard University Center on the Developing Child
- Strategies to Support Black Students, Teachers, and Communities in Schools, Education Northwest
- 12 Powerful Statistics That Prove Why Teachers Matter, We Are Teachers
- Family Engagement, Office of Head Start and Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center
- Raise Child Care, Start Strong PA
NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
- Prioritizing Minority Mental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- BIPOC Mental Health, Mental Health America
- Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations, American Psychiatric Association
- Mental Health Doesn’t Discriminate, So Why Do BIPOC Communities Have Difficulty Accessing Care?, Jefferson Center for Mental Health
- Erasing Mental Health Stigma in the Black Community, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Where to Find Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents in Pittsburgh, The University of Pittsburgh: Youth and Family Research Program
- BIPOC/AAPI Mental Health Resources, NAMI New Hampshire
- Anti-Racism Resources for Families, Trying Together
- Multilingual Trauma Resources, The Child Mind Institute
Days of Recognition
JULY 4 IS INDEPENDENCE DAY
- Ways to Celebrate Independence Day in Pittsburgh in 2024, Visit Pittsburgh
- 23 Crafts and Activities for Independence Day, We Are Teachers
- A Nation’s Story: What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC)
- The Fourth of July is a Black American Holiday, The Washington Post
- Making Our Voices Heard: Books About Activism for Kids, Read Brightly
JULY 7 TO JULY 8 IS ISLAMIC NEW YEAR
- Muharram 2024: When is Islamic New Year?, The Old Farmer’s Almanac
- Muharram, Calendar United States
JULY 14 IS INTERNATIONAL NON-BINARY PEOPLE’S DAY
- Gender Identity Development in Early Childhood, Trying Together
- Resource List: LGBTQ+ Organizations, Trying Together
- A Guide to Gender Identity Terms, NPR & WESA
- Understanding Nonbinary People: How to Be Respectful and Supportive, National Center for Transgender Equality
- 10 Ways to Step Up as an Ally to Non-Binary People, Stonewall
- Children’s Books That Teach Tolerance, Goodreads
- Early Childhood Book List: Learning About Gender Diversity, Social Justice Books
JULY 24 IS NATIONAL PARENTS’ DAY
- The Best Ways to Celebrate Parents’ Day, American Lifestyle Magazine
- Caring for the Caregiver, Trying Together
- Positive Parenting Tips, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series, Trying Together
- Outside Gender Norms: Father’s Day and Mother’s Day Aren’t Easy Fits for LGBTQ Families, The Standard-Times
- Parenting Resources for Foster Parents, Child Welfare Information Gateway
- Being a Step-Parent and Raising Your Partner’s Child, Raising Children
- Resources to Share With Expectant Families, Office of Head Start
- Find Child Care, ELRC Region 5
JULY 25 IS WORLD DROWNING PREVENTION DAY
- Drowning Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Drowning Prevention & Facts, American Red Cross
- Water Safety at Home, Safe Kids Worldwide
- Water Safety Tips for Families, Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Toddler Water Safety: 14 Ways to Keep Safer, Stop Drowning Now
- Swim and Water Safety, Autism Speaks
- 4 Places to Get Free Summer Swim Lessons for Kids in the ‘Burgh, Macaroni Kid
- How to Perform Child and Baby CPR, American Red Cross
JULY 26 IS NATIONAL DISABILITY INDEPENDENCE DAY
- Celebrating National Disability Independence Day, InclusionHub
- Guide to Disability Rights Laws, U.S. Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division
- Ideas for Celebrating the ADA, ADAAnniversary.org
- Disability and Autism Supports, Allegheny County Department of Human Services
- Disability Resources in the Community, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
- 16 Shelf-Worthy Children’s Books About Disabilities for All Students, We Are Teachers
- Representation Matters: Kids Books That Embrace Disability and Difference, New York Public Library
- Service Dogs 101 – Everything You Need to Know, American Kennel Club
