Asset-Building Days, Weeks, and Months to Celebrate

There are lots of reasons to celebrate asset-building everyday! But here are some specific days, weeks, and months (with some possible asset connections noted) that you can use as reasons to honor and acknowledge the importance of asset-building for kids in your community.

January

Humanitarian Day-January 15 (#4: caring neighborhood, #10: safety, # 14: adult role models, #27: equality and social justice, #30: responsibility)
Religious Freedom Day-January 16 (#19: religious community, #34: cultural competence)
National Hugging Day-January 21 (support category: #1-#6)

February

National Boost Your Self-Esteem Month-February (#38: self-esteem)
Be an Encourager Day-February 1 (support and empowerment categories: #1-#10, #26: caring)
Read to Your Child Day-February 14 (#22: school engagement, #25: reading for pleasure)
Student Volunteer Day-February 20 (#7: community values youth, #8: youth as resources, #9: service to others, #15: positive peer influence, #26: caring)

March

Art Week-First week in March (#17: creative activities)
I Want You to Be Happy Day-March 3 (support category: #1-#6, #26: caring)
Good Samaritan Involvement Day-March 13 (positive identity category: #37-#40, #26: caring, #27: equality and social justice, #38: self-esteem)

April

National Volunteer Week-Usually the third week in April (#7: community values youth, #8: youth as resources, #9: service to others)
Reading Is Fun Week-Third week in April (#22: school engagement, #25: reading for pleasure)
Week of the Young Child-Third week in April (children's assets: #1-#40)
National Youth Service Day-April 21 (#7: community values youth, #8: youth as resources, #9: service to others)
Child Care Professionals' Day-April 24 (children's support assets: #1-#6)
National Honesty Day-April 30 (#29: honesty)
Friendship Sees No Color Week-End of April, coinciding with the Los Angeles riots that took place April 29-May 3, 1992 (#34: cultural competence)

May

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month-May (#18: youth programs)
Teacher Appreciation Week-First full week in May (support and commitment to learning assets: #1-#6 and #21-#25, #14: adult role models)
National Family Week-First full week in May (#1: family support)
School Family Day-Tuesday of the first full week in May (#6: parent involvement in schooling)
Thank You School Librarian Day-May 2 (#3: other adult relationships, #25: reading for pleasure, #14: adult role models)
May Fellowship Day (an event that responds to local community needs)-First Friday in May (#7: community values youth, #8: youth as resources, #9: service to others, #30: responsibility)
Mother's Day-Second Sunday in May (asset #1: family support, #14: adult role models)

June

Stand for Children Day-June 1 (asset #7: community values children and youth)
Race Unity Day-Second Sunday in June (#34: cultural competence)
Father's Day-Third Sunday in June (#1: family support, #14: adult role models)
National Forgiveness Day-June 25 (#28: integrity, #33: interpersonal competence, #36: peaceful conflict resolution)

July

Music for Life Week-First full week in July (#17: creative activities)

August

Friendship Day-August 1 (#15: positive peer influence, #33: interpersonal competence)
National Smile Week-First Monday in August through the following Sunday (support category: #1-#6)
American Family Day-First Sunday in August (#1: family support)
Be Kind to Humankind Week-Last week of August (#26: caring, #27: equality and social justice)
Dream Day (remembering the "I Have a Dream" speech from the 1963 March on Washington-August 28 (#40: positive view of personal future, #34: cultural competence, #27: equality and social justice, #39: sense of purpose)

September

Self-Improvement Month (to celebrate the importance of lifelong learning and self-improvement)-September (commitment to learning, social competencies, and positive identity assets: #21-#25, #32-#36, and #37-#40)
Baby Safety Month-September (asset #7: community values youth, #10: safety)
National Grandparents Day-First Sunday in September following Labor Day (asset #1: family support #3: other adult relationships, #14: adult role models)
National Good Neighbor Day-Fourth Sunday in September (#4: caring neighborhood, #13: neighborhood boundaries, #14: adult role models)

October

National Book It! Day-October 3 (#25: reading for pleasure)
National School Celebration-October 14 (commitment to learning assets: #21-#25)
Peace With Justice Week-Third week in October (#27: equality and social justice, #36: peaceful conflict resolution)
Make a Difference Day (a national day of community service)-Fourth Sunday in October (#8: youth as resources, #9: service to others, #26: caring, #27: equality and social justice)
Peace, Friendship, and Good Will Week-Last seven days of October (#26: caring, #33: interpersonal competence, #36: peaceful conflict resolution)

November

Child Safety and Protection Month-November (#10: safety, #7: community values youth)
International Creative Child and Adult Month-November (#14: adult role models, #17: creative activities, #21: achievement motivation)
World Community Day-First Friday in November (asset #4: caring neighborhood, #34: cultural competence, #40: positive view of personal future)
National Children's Book Week-Third week in November (#25: reading for pleasure)
National Stop the Violence Day-November 22 (#35: resistance skills and #36: peaceful conflict resolution)
American Education Week-First full week preceding the fourth Thursday in November (commitment to learning assets: #21-#25)
National Community Education Day-Tuesday of American Education Week (commitment to learning assets: #21-#25)

December

Make Up Your Mind Day-December 31 (#32: planning and decision-making)

For more dates, see Chase's Annual Events: The Day-by-Day Directory (Chicago: Contemporary Books, published annually).

From Pass It On! Ready-to-Use Handouts for Asset Builders, copyright © 1998 by Search Institute, 700 S. Third St., Suite 210, Minneapolis, MN 55415; 612-376-8955; 800-888-7828; www.search-institute.org. This handout may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.