There are some really fun national days in October to celebrate as a family!
Check out our fun printable National Fun Day calendar bundle and some great ideas for things you can easily do with your kids to celebrate every day of the month.
Fall is in full swing and Halloween will be here before you know it! Check out these awesome National Fun Days to get the celebration started early this year!
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What are National Days?
If you’re here, you probably are already familiar with National Days.
But did you know that the United States only actually recognizes 10 official national holidays and 44 national observances per year?
National Days are the extra little fun “holidays” that have been growing in popularity since 1984 when President Ronald Reagan created National Ice Cream Day.
Today, thanks to websites such as the National Day Calendar and the popularity of social media, self-proclaimed National Days have become more well-known.
Now each day of the year has at least one unofficial National Day associated with it, and most days have three or four different National Days to celebrate.
While some National Days aren’t the most family-friendly (National Dive Bar day, anyone?) we’ve picked the most kid-appropriate National Days in October right here for you!
October National Days for Kids Free Printable
To easily choose which days you want to celebrate with your kids in October, be sure to grab a copy of the 2024 National Fun Days Calendars right here!
These free printable National Days for Kids calendars are accessed by thousands of families every month, so don’t miss out!
Simply fill out the form below to get yours!
Kid-Friendly National Days in October to Celebrate as a Family
October 1 – National Homemade Cookies Day / Pumpkin Spice Day
We’re starting off the month with two fun days to choose from National Homemade Cookies Day and National Pumpkin Spice Day!
Your best option may be to combine the two and make these delicious Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies with your kids!
October 2 – National Name Your Car Day
This is one of those random National Days that we absolutely love – it’s totally quirky and super easy to carry out.
Does your family vehicle have a name? If not, today is the day to give it a special name! You could have everyone brainstorm some names and vote or draw the winner out of a hat!
FYI: Our Honda Odyssey is named Homer – both for the literary work and because he brings us home. Get it?!
October 3 – National Child Health Day
National Child Health Day may not be the most exciting day of the month, but it’s definitely important.
Take some time today to make sure your kids are up to date on things like immunizations, dental appointments, and well visits to their pediatrician.
October 4 – National Cinnamon Bun Day
Yum! Today is National Cinnamon Bun Day!
If your kids love to bake, why not try to make your own?
But if anything bread-related intimidates you (like it does for us!), there’s no shame in hitting up your local bakery for some fresh, delicious cinnamon rolls today!
October 5 – National Pumpkin Seed Day/ Walk to School Day
If your kids’ school is within walking distance, you may consider leaving the house a little earlier and walking them to school for National Walk to School Day.
But if that isn’t an option (or just doesn’t appeal to you!), there’s always National Pumpkin Seed Day to celebrate instead!
October 6 – National Coaches Day
Take some time to help your kids recognize their coaches today! They could draw a picture or make a little note or card.
And remember, a coach doesn’t have to be a sports coach. Consider helping your kids celebrate their learning coaches, music teachers, drama directors, and more.
October 7 – National Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Day
National Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Day just sounds fun, doesn’t it?
Here’s a fun and simple recipe from Dinner Then Dessert if you’d like to try making your own at home with your kids!
October 8 – National Chess Day
Do you have some analytical thinkers at your house? If so, National Chess Day would be a wonderful day to introduce them to the game of chess!
(And it’s totally okay if chess is not your strong suit. This Story Time Chess learn-to-play version available on Amazon is just what you need!)
October 9 – National Moldy Cheese Day
Okay, so hear us out.
There really aren’t any other kid-friendly holidays to celebrate on October 9th, so we went with National Moldy Cheese Day in the hopes that it will appeal to your kids’ goofy side!
You could read the hilarious classic book, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, or sample a cheese your kids haven’t ever tried before!
October 10 – Columbus Day
The only official Federal Holiday of the month, your kids may have Columbus Day off from school.
Ask them what they’ve learned about Christopher Columbus in school and spend this day doing a fun fall activity together if you can!
Related article: The Ultimate Fall Bucket List – 125 Fun Fall Things to Do With Your Kids
October 11 – National Sausage Pizza Day
When you think of kids and pizza, it usually involves cheese and pepperoni, right?
Why not branch out a little today and see if sausage pizza might be to their liking as well?
October 12 – National Stop Bullying Day
Eighteen 6th-grade students introduced National Stop Bullying Day back in 2009, and now it’s observed in schools all over the country!
Check with your school to see if anything is happening to teach kids the importance of standing up and speaking out against bullying.
October 13 – National Train Your Brain Day
Another day with a great message, National Train Your Brain Day is all about expanding your mind and keeping it healthy.
Grab some great logic puzzles, like Soduku or crossword puzzles, and try some with your kids!
Or try one of our two very favorite logic games for kids: Gnomes at Night or Qwirkle!
October 14 – National Dessert Day
This is a fun, easy, and delicious day to celebrate together!
Choose any dessert to make or buy and enjoy it as a family.
If you have extra time or kids who especially love to bake, you could host your own little family bake-off competition to celebrate the day, too!
October 15 – National Sweetest Day
This National Day has unofficially been around for over 100 years!
Begun in 1916 as Candy Day, this day focuses on the power of something small (like a piece of candy) to help someone feel happy.
So whether or not you indulge your kids’ sweet tooth is up to you, but it’s still a day you can celebrate by doing a small, sweet action that will make a difference for someone else.
October 16 – National Sports Day
If your kids have a particular sport they enjoy, get out today and enjoy it together!
On the flip side, this would also be a great day to try a NEW sport they’ve never done before.
October 17 – National Pasta Day
We love national holidays that also help you plan your menu!
Simply choose your favorite pasta dish and serve it for dinner.
Voila! You’ve celebrated a National Day!
October 18 – National Chocolate Cupcake Day
What’s not to love about National Chocolate Cupcake Day, right?!
You could have a cupcake-baking session with your kids in your own kitchen and make some sweet memories while you’re at it!
Or support a local business and pick up some delicious treats at your favorite in-town bakery instead.
October 19 – Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day
FYI: The other options for October 19th are National Hagfish Day, National Seafood Bisque Day, and Medical Assistant’s Day.
So we’re going with Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day!
Check to see what your local Chamber of Commerce has coming up for families where you live. With Halloween coming up soon, there just might be a great activity or two that your kids will want to do together!
October 20 – National Chicken and Waffles Day
Founded recently in 2021, National Chicken and Waffles Day marks the day to try the Southern favorite combo of sweet waffles and savory fried chicken.
We’re guessing it’ll be a hit with the kids!
October 21 – National Reptile Awareness Day
Do you have any reptile lovers in your house?
Today is a great day to get out those reptile books or take a trip to the zoo if you can. Of course, some time in the Reptile House is warranted today!
October 22 – National Make a Difference Day
This wonderful National Day is all about finding small opportunities for service in your community and taking action.
There are many volunteer projects that kids can participate in, such as a clothing or food drive, or a park or roadside cleanup.
October 23 – National Boston Cream Pie Day
This National Day celebrates an old-fashioned dessert that your kids may have never tried!
Even though it’s called a pie, it’s actually a cake! With layers of cake, pudding, and a chocolate frosting, this is the ultimate sweet dessert!
To make your own simplified version with graham crackers instead of cake, check out this recipe here from Crayons and Cravings.
October 24 – National Food Day
Sandwiched in between a dessert holiday and Halloween (see what we did there?!), National Food Day is all about focusing on healthy eating!
This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about moderation in their eating habits and the importance of eating nutritious food.
October 25 – Sourest Day
As a follow-up to Sweetest Day, this day is about embracing the sour things that surround us.
For kids though, you might take a light-hearted approach and let them try different sour foods and candies for fun!
October 26 – National Pumpkin Day
Hooray for the beginning of the Halloween-y National Days!
National Pumpkin Day is a perfect time to paint or carve your pumpkins as a family or make another visit to your local pumpkin patch!
Related article: 19 Fun and Easy Pumpkin-Carving Alternatives to Try With Your Kids
October 27 – National Black Cat Day
Today is a great day to take a walk around your neighborhood with your kids and map out your Trick-or-Treating route.
While you’re at it, try our fun Halloween Decorations Scavenger Hunt from our Free Printable Library, and be on the lookout for any black cats that might cross your path!
October 28 – National Frankenstein Friday
Today will likely be full of fun Halloween activities for your kids at school.
Top off the evening with a fun Halloween game night at home! Our super-popular 16 Kid-Friendly Halloween Minute to Win It Games would be a perfect fit for the evening!
October 29 – National Trick or Treat Day
With Halloween on a Monday in 2022, neighborhoods are encouraged to host Trick or Treat on Saturday evening, October 29th.
Before you head out with your kids, make sure their costumes are properly lit and that they can walk easily without tripping.
Head on out for a fun and memorable time together!
October 30 – National Candy Corn Day
Interestingly enough, candy corn made the Top Candy list AND the Worst Candy list in our Halloween Family Feud Survey!
If your kids are fans, celebrate National Candy Corn Day with one last bag of candy corn for the month!
October 31 – Halloween
Halloween is one of the most enjoyable days of the year for kids.
Check out our many ideas for celebrating Halloween as a family right here!
Happy Halloween to you and yours!
Why Kids Love National Days
Kids are often pleased with the smallest things, which is why National Days seem to resonate so well with them!
In his beautiful essay, “Small Things Matter,” Kelly G. Wilson, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Mississippi, wrote:
See if you can remember times, moments, activities, when you knew you were loved.
Did someone read to you? Snuggle with you a minute before bed? Did they let you help cook pancakes and let you stir? These are the landscapes of love. Not big things, rather these patterns of small moments.
While celebrating National Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Day may seem insignificant to you, it may be just the thing that will create a lifelong memory for your kids.
Final thoughts about October National Days
As with all things here at Jen Bradley|MOMs, we encourage you to keep your National Day celebrations super simple!
Do NOT think for a second that you have to create a Pinterest-worthy event for any of these days!
Just choose one or two fun days to celebrate each week or month, and view it as a great way to connect with your kids in ways that you might not otherwise.
If you want any more information about the National Days in this article or want to see what other National Days are happening in October, visit the National Day Calendar right here!
Finally, don’t forget to snag your October National Days for Kids printable calendar today!
Related articles about National Days and family fun:
31 Awesome January National Days to Celebrate With Your Kids
The Best February National Days to Celebrate as a Family
31 Family-Friendly March National Days to Celebrate With Your Kids
30 Amazing April National Days to Celebrate With Your Kids
31 Fun National Days in May to Enjoy as a Family
The Best June National Days for Kids
31 Awesome National Days in July for Kids and Parents
August National Days to Celebrate as a Family
30 Fun September National Holidays for Kids and Adults
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Which national days in October are you excited to celebrate with your kids?
