25th September World Lobster Day

From tiny hatchlings in a hatchery to wild lobsters living on the seabed, every lobster has a story to tell. National Lobster Day is a chance to discover more about these fascinating animals, learn about the challenges facing our marine environment and find out how conservation, research, education and sustainable fisheries can help safeguard our seas for generations to come.

You may not enjoy eating lobster. I don't. But, you can always read about them:

13th September International Slow Loris Day

 

Illustration of a slow loris by Sami Bayly from her book The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals.

Lorises are  nocturnal primates that are found throughout Southeast Asia. Although they look adorable, they are venomous due to a gland located on their arm. When the venom secreted from this underarm gland is combined with their saliva, it turns their bite into a very harmful one. The slow loris is in critical danger due to deforestation and wildlife trade for traditional medicine, bushmeat, exotic pet trade, and more. Take the day to get to know this wonderful species and learn how to help them. 

I was surprised to find so many children's books about them.

Slow Loris  by Alexis Deacon

Slow Lorises  by Mary Molly Shea

Slow Lorises  by Robert Scally

Slow Lorises  by Quinn M. Arnold

Hello, I'm a Loris  by Hayley & John Rocco

13th September Snack a Pickle Day; Peanut Day and Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day

What a combo! All these days can be celebrated with a book! Read them while you cook up a feast in the kitchen.

• Snack a Pickle Day 

Pickles are cucumbers preserved in a brine or vinegar solution, together with herbs. The word "pickle" originated from the Dutch word "pekel," which means brine. The whole process of making pickles started in 1440, and the invention of the mason jar gave a significant help in 1858. Pickles are a great source of vitamin K and are low in calories.

• Peanut Day 

Did you know that peanuts are legumes and not nuts? Peanuts most probably originated about 3,500 years ago in South America. They belong to the family Leguminosae where their relatives, beans and peas, are included. They are not nuts because nuts grow in trees, and legumes like peanuts and potatoes grow underground. Peanuts are rich in vitamins B6 and E, iron, zinc, and magnesium.

• Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day 

This is a great day to let children get creative in the kitchen and cook together with their parents or caregivers. This day was born thanks to a cooking school franchise in Texas called the 'Young Chefs Academy'.

Last week of August Be Kind to Humankind Week

Speak Kind Words Saturday falls within the Be Kind to Humankind Week, established in 1988. This annual celebration is the occasion to make your corner of the world a better place. This day, in particular, reminds us of the power of words: they can inspire and heal people, as well as hurt and break them. Think well before you speak; watch what you say. Will my words help my interlocutor?

Observed in the last week of August each year, Be Kind to Humankind Week is a way for people to celebrate kindness, generosity, service, and forgiveness to our fellow human beings. It serves as a reminder that kind words and acts should be the norm, as supporting one another is a direct way to help people thrive. 

The website suggests you do something different for each day.

This could be made simpler for children and only done on school days. eg.

Day 1: Perform a random act (or two) of kindness.

A girl in a red hat finds the courage to be kind to the new student in class. Her kindness spreads, kind act by kind act, until her whole community experiences the magical shift that happens when everyone understands—and acts on—what it means to be kind.

What does it mean to be kind? When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate contemplates how to make her feel better and what it means to be kind. From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving and thoughtful story explores what a child can do to be kind.

Day 2: Send a letter or card to a friend—as a surprise.

"A sweet and charming book about a little girl who writes a letter to a friend and the unexpected route (and results) that follow."

Day 3: Volunteer to help someone.

A little old lady who is nobody's granny lives in a small cottage. The children from the nearby flats like to play in the overgrown garden. When a new fence is built, they no longer come to play and the little old lady grows lonely and decides to do something about it.

Every day Amos McGee spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favour. 

Day 4: Create a list of kind things to say.

A guide to teaching young children how to negotiate new experiences and big emotions with empathy and words from the heart. Speaking up can be difficult, especially in tricky situations.

Day 5: Play a social emotional health game.

Let's make a deal: You want this. I want that. How can we both get what we want?” Brainstorm solutions and choose the best idea for right now. 

Jack likes trucks. Alex likes dolls. What will they play together? With a little bit of compromise their new favourite game, of course!

Simon and his friend Ferdinand are playing with their cars. Simon has a yellow one, a blue one, and a green one. But when he spots Ferdinands extraordinary red car, he must have it! And so begin the negotiations... Will someone end up with more than he bargained for?

We all know learning can be hard and life skills don't always come right away ... sometimes, we need to keep trying! 

And if you need to forgive a foe, read