Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them.

Here is a list of resources for October observances:

Month-Long Observances

Head Start Awareness Month

• Head Start Awareness Month-October 2023, National Today
• October is Head Start Awareness Month, Trying Together

Dyslexia Awareness Month

• October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, International Dyslexia Association
• Understanding Dyslexia, Nemours KidsHealth
• Understanding Dyslexia, Child Mind Institute

Hispanic Heritage Month (continued)

• Family Guide to Discussing Race and Equity with Young Children, Trying Together
• Latino Children Represent Over a Quarter of the Child Population Nationwide, National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families
• Key Facts About Young Latinos, One of the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Populations, Pew Research Center
• Characteristics of the Early Childhood Workforce Serving Latino Children, National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families
• Celebrate Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month With These Tasty Recipes!, PBS Kids for Parents

National Book Month

• Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child? Child Mind Institute
• Kids & Teens Booklists, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
• Supporting Early Literacy Development, Buzzword Pittsburgh

Days of Recognition

October 2 is National Child Health Day

• Childhood Physical Health, Trying Together
• Childhood Physical Health: Resources, Trying Together
• Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families, Trying Together
• Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health, Trying Together

October 4 is National Walk to School Day

• National Walk & Bike To School Day-October 4, 2023, National Today
• Celebrate Walk to School Day, Action For Healthy Kids

October 7 is National Play Outside Day

• Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative
• Outdoor Play Trends, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative
• The Benefits of Outdoor Play: Why It Matters, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

October 9 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day

• 9 Ways To Observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day With Children, Rebekah Gienapp

October 10 is World Mental Health Day

• Childhood Mental Health, Trying Together
• Caring for the Caregiver, Trying Together
• Mental Health Resources for Child Care Providers in Allegheny County, Early Learning Resource Center
• Grandfamily Tip Sheets Provide Information on Self-Care and Youth Mental Health, Trying Together
• Parental Mental Health Impacts on Children, Trying Together

October 11 is National Coming Out Day

• Gender, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Trying Together
• Family Guide: Gender and Gender Identity, Trying Together
• Non-Gendered Play in Early Childhood, Trying Together
• How Are Sex, Gender, and Gender Identity Defined? Trying Together
• Resource List: Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together