February offers month-long celebrations filled with delicious treats, smiles, books, history and more. Read on to find out more about this month of love, Presidents and staying healthy in Winter.
When George Washington told his father he could not tell a lie and he had chopped down the family’s cherry tree, it showed that our first President was honest and trustworthy. In his honor, we celebrate National Cherry Month in February, which is also a good reminder that this delicious fruit is available throughout the year, not just during the summer.
Health Heart Month – A good month to start your family eat healthy and exercise daily plan! https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-month National Wear Red Day® is the first Friday in February. Wear red and encourage others to do the same. Help raise awareness that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and largely preventable.
Black History Month was started in 1926 by a well-known African American historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson. It wasn’t until 1976 that the entire month of February was recognized as Black History Month!
Book selections from this website can offer more information to your preschoolers about this important time in our country’s history. You can also find out more Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.
2/1 National Decorating with Candy Day, -by decorating our homes with candies and sweets. It’s celebrated a little after Christmas and before Valentine’s Day — two holidays that are marked by eating and gifting candies. So, in a way, Decorating with Candy Day keeps the festive cheer alive and anticipates the warm and mushy feelings of Valentine’s Day. You can celebrate the day even if you don’t really like candies — because after all, you only need candies to decorate your home. This is especially a great holiday to celebrate with kids since it encourages creativity and there’s hardly a child who doesn’t love a candy treat!
2/1 National Dark Chocolate Day: It is a Day to remind us to indulge a little. Many say dark chocolate is the healthier chocolate. However, for some, it can be an acquired taste. Also known as bittersweet chocolate, dark chocolate is different from milk chocolate. Candy makers add milk or butter to milk chocolate, giving it a creamier consistency. Enjoy some warm, homemade crackling hot cocoa with your family.
2/2- Groundhog’s Day is when the famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil comes out of its hole in Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania at the end of hibernation. If the animal sees its shadow, it is said there will be six more weeks of winter weather. This year, you don’t have to drive to Pennsylvania to witness Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow. The annual tradition is going virtual at groundhog.org. Here are several fun activities you can do at home with your children for groundhog’s day.
2/3- National Give Kids A Smile Day. It was created by the American Dental Association (ADA) to allow children who normally can’t afford dental care to see a dentist. The entire month of February is National Dental Health month and a good time to remind children of good dental hygiene habits. The ADA holds a month-long campaign full of resources and activities to help ensure your child’s dental health. Here are some other ideas for making dental hygiene fun.
2/3 Health Heart Day – On the first Friday of every month the nation goes red for National Wear Red Day! Want to help? Wear red to bring awareness about cardiovascular disease and help save lives. Also, learn about why February is hearth health month!https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/get-involved/give/wear-red-and-give
2/6- Parent/Teacher Conferences at Kangaroo Kids Open Week for Discovery Preschool, Kindergarten and Prekindergarten. This is for families who cannot make the original dates in January.
2/7-National Send a Friend a Card Day: Send a card to your friends. You can buy cards at a store, or you can make them yourself. Whichever way you choose, set aside a few minutes to write a short note or a long note in a card and send one to make a friend’s day!
2/9- National Pizza Day: celebrates one of America’s all-time favorite foods. Whether it is thin crust, Chicago-style, deep dish, or anything in between, pizza is an American favorite. I also have included some recipes, facts, and pizza theme activities for the children to engage in at home. Go check out the top Pizza’s in NJ. The BEST Pizzerias in NJ!
2/9 Super Bowl Day: Wear your favorite football team Shirts!
2/10: Lunar New Year: The 2024 Lunar New Year is upon us, taking place on Feb. 10. Compared to the standard New Year calendar, the Lunar New Year — this time the Year of the Dragon — is celebrated over the course of multiple days. Ultimately, though, astrologists say the mood of 2024 will be growth and development, driven by the Year of the Wood Dragon urging pursuit of dreams and period nine’s push for people to perform to the best of their abilities.
You may wonder how long does Chinese New Year last? Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) is celebrated for sixteen days (from Chinese New Year’s Eve to Chinese Lantern Festival). The preparations start half a month before Chinese New Year’s Eve. Many celebration activities for this period are traditional customs, but some are quite new. The festival that is frequently referred to as ‘Chinese New Year’ is not only celebrated in China. The term ‘Lunar New Year’ is increasingly used to refer to festivals in other countries that take place at the same time and with many of the same traditions as in China.
2/11 -National Inventors Day: Did You Know….…that the snowmobile, popsicles, and braille were all invented by children? It’s A Celebration of Ingenuity. Ingenuity is a special thing, and it’s something we should foster. For every great inventor, there was a community of people behind them that helped to realize their vision. National Inventors’ Day helps draw light to our inventors, and hopefully, we’ll be able to encourage the next generation of inventors to be meet their fullest potential. kid-inventors-day
2/11- Super Bowl Sunday, not only a time to cheer for your favorite team, but also to gather virtually with family and friends. Remember to include your children in the festivities! Kangaroo Kids had a Super Bowl Day where children wore their favorite sport jersey and created football crafts mixed in with math and literacy lessons! Here are some fun Super Bowl ideas you can do in front of the television when watching the big game together: 60+ Preschool Superbowl ideas | football themes, football activity, football crafts (pinterest.com)
2/13 Mardi Gras Day- ‘Mardi Gras’ is French for Fat Tuesday. It’s also called Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday in different parts of the world. Mardi Gras is synonymous with carnival celebrations in New Orleans, Venice, and Rio. Celebrations include lots of delicious food, brightly colored purple, green, and gold decor, and all things sparkly! Grab the glue and glitter and get crafty!
2/14-Saint Valentine’s Day (or just Valentine’s Day) is a holiday that people celebrate annually to express love. On Valentine’s Day, send homemade cards, candy, flowers, and other tokens of love to friends, family members, classmates, and neighbors. To get started, here are some craft ideas and other activities your children can have fun with on this special day. Don’t forget to wear red or pink!
2/14 – Breakfast to Go at Kangaroo Kids- A special event to thank all our families and friends for their support all year long! Stop by Kangaroo Kids on your way to work to say hello and pick up a treat to take to work.
2/17- National Random Acts of Kindness Day has grown in popularity each year. It is celebrated by individuals, groups, and organizations, nationwide, to encourage acts of kindness. It is a favorite day to many, as people everywhere are enjoying doing these acts of kindness. Here are several fun activities that you and your family can participate within your community or your home.
2/19-President’s Day Kangaroo Kids CLOSED!
Washington’s Birthday is a U.S. federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Increasingly, the holiday has become an occasion to celebrate the birthdays of both President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln. Americans honor two of our country’s most influential Presidents who both have birthdays this month – George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Teach your children about these honorable and honest role models with these fun facts about President’s Day. Check out some fun and engaging activities. Check out some important US President facts.
2/22 – Kangaroo Kids Kindergarten Open House at 4:30 pm. Kindergarten is an important time in a child’s educational experience. During this first formal step in a lifelong process of learning it is crucial to prepare children in a positive manner that encourages self- confidence and a love of learning.
Parents will be invited to tour the school and see firsthand the exceptional curriculum and learn about Kangaroo Kids full day private school kindergarten program. The curriculum includes foreign language classes, sign language and music lessons in addition to the traditional curriculum.
Kangaroo Kids is one of only 7% of schools nationwide to receive accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Please call with any questions or to register for this event! 908-231-7800
2/23- National Banana Bread Day-Looking to change up your breakfast routine? Why not bake this super simple banana bread for National Banana Bread Day. Add some chocolate chips for an extra taste of sweetness!
2/23 – Hoops for Hearts – In honor of February being Heart Health Month, Kangaroo Kids presents “Hoops for Heart” on Friday, February 24th. To be Happy and Healthy, we will work on hopping, jumping along with dancing with our friends to raise money for New York-Presbyterian Kids Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital (Columbia). Call Kangaroo Kids for more information 908-231-7800.
2/26-3/1- Read Across America Week at Kangaroo Kids
Library Lover’s Month in February is a wonderful time to take advantage of all your library has to offer. Why not curl up with a good book from one of these local library branches or register for one of their fun virtual programs?
Check out several activities at our local library. https://sclsnj.org/
https://www.readingtontwpnj.gov/community/readington-library
For more family events during February visit these websites:
https://hulafrog.com/bridgewater-nj
www.kangarookidschildcare.com
