September 29, 2025 Resources for October Observances 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. Week-Long Observances Anti-Poverty Week (Oct. 12 to Oct. 18) Baby Loss Awareness Week (Oct. 9 to Oct. 15) Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5 to Oct. 11) Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 5 to Oct. 11) National Friends of Libraries Week (Oct. 19 to Oct. 25) National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 20 to Oct. 24) Month-Long Observances HEAD START AWARENESS MONTH Head Start Awareness Month October 2024, National Today October is Head Start Awareness Month, Trying Together October is Head Start Awareness Month, Sunrise Children’s Foundation Head Start Awareness Month, National Head Start Association DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, International Dyslexia Association Understanding Dyslexia, Nemours KidsHealth Understanding Dyslexia, Child Mind Institute 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 PBS Kids for Parents Releases List of Books for Children About Friendship, Buzzword Days of Recognition • OCTOBER 3: KIDS MUSIC DAY • OCTOBER 4: 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 5: WORLD TEACHER’S DAY • OCTOBER 6: 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 8: NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY National Walk & Bike to School Day – October 1, 2025, National Today Celebrate Walk to School Day, Action for Healthy Kids • OCTOBER 10: 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: 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 • OCTOBER 13: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY 11 Ways to Observe Indigenous People’s Day with Children, Rebekah Gienapp What is Indigenous People’s Day? Here’s a Look at Its History, Associated Press • OCTOBER 19: NATIONAL NEW FRIENDS DAY • OCTOBER 20: NATIONAL YOUTH CONFIDENCE DAY • OCTOBER 28: NATIONAL IMMIGRANTS DAY • OCTOBER 29 : INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CARE AND SUPPORT
September 25, 2024 Resources for October Observances 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 2024, National Today October is Head Start Awareness Month, Trying Together Head Start Awareness Month Digital Toolkit, ECLKC Head Start Awareness Month, National Head Start Association DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, International Dyslexia Association Understanding Dyslexia, Nemours KidsHealth Understanding Dyslexia, Child Mind Institute 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 PA Promise Releases Book List for Families and Friends, Buzzword 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 2, 2024, National Today Celebrate Walk to School Day, Action for Healthy Kids OCTOBER 5 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 11 Ways to Observe Indigenous People’s Day with Children, Rebekah Gienapp What is Indigenous People’s Day? Here’s a Look at Its History, Associated Press 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
September 26, 2023 Resources for October Observances 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
