30 Days of Play

Let’s kick off #30DaysOfPlay by having fun pranking family and friends. Keep it positive, safe, and kind. What’s the best April Fool’s joke you’ve experienced? #DidUPlay2day #AprilFoolsDay

Today, sing “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” and turn snack-time into a dance-off. Then slow it down with this peanut puzzle for the kids.

It's also International Children’s Book Day! Here’s a great list of children’s books from NPR

If it’s raining and the sun is out, chances are high a rainbow will form in the sky. If it’s not raining, try making your own rainbow using the sunshine or a flashlight! Let’s see your rainbows.  

For World Party Day, pump up the jams and share your best dance moves with us on our social platforms! Tag us and use #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day

Have fun walking around things today. See who can walk around the most things (furniture, lamp posts, fire hydrants). Tag us in your videos! #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day

Ever heard of First Contact Day? This is the day to imagine meeting an alien from outer space! Dress up as an alien or as your favorite astronaut or space traveler. Show us your best alien costumes! #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day

You don’t have to have Scottish ancestry to celebrate National Tartan Day. Try making your own tartan designs (just don’t call it plaid!) and share your creations on our social platforms! #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day

Today also is World Health Day and this year’s theme is Building a fairer, healthier world. Let’s make sure children experiencing homelessness get access to the health benefits of play!

It's also National No Housework Day, so skip the housework and go play! (Preferably outside.) Tell us how you played today. 

Though you can’t go in person, you can still visit the Smithsonian’s National Zoo online for National Zoo Lovers Day. Check out the webcams for the panda, elephant, lion, and naked mole rat!  

Can you draw a bird for Draw a Bird Day?   #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day 

If you don’t have a unicorn costume handy for National Unicorn Day, make your own horn and wear it all day! 

What if you could change your name to anything, what would it be? It’s Name Yourself Day, so give it a try. Visit our social platforms and tell us your favorite names (for people and pets!) and why? #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day

It’s National Farm Animals Day so gather the family together and sing, “Old MacDonald Had A Farm.” Have fun making animal noises, and get creative with this farm animal coloring sheet. #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day

Dog owners! It’s also Hug Your Dog Day. Show your pooch some love!

Take time to play with your pet today (if you have one) or interview your friends with pets about their experience as a pet owner. Tell us the most unusual pet you or a friend has ever had. #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day

It’s time to get out of your comfort zone for Walk on Your Wild Side Day! Tell us on our social platforms one crazy thing you have on your bucket list. Enjoy this fun video for motivation to do something new! #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day

On National For Twelves Day there are a dozen ways to celebrate the number 12! (See what we did there?) We challenge you to name as many things as you can that people buy by the dozen. 

Game night, anyone? Scrabble was invented in 1931 by a New York architect and originally named Lexico. What’s your favorite board game? 

Nothing better than a relaxing day or night watching the sky. Turn Look Up at the Sky Day into a Bingo game and see how many things you can spot in the sky.

For International Moment of Laughter Day, we’re pretty certain you can’t keep a straight face watching this video of babies laughing!

Let’s count how many high fives you can give or get today. Up high? Down low? And check out the awesome work of High Fives Foundation, getting athletes back to an active lifestyle after a life-altering accident.

Okay, so most of us have been doing this for a while now, but at least we have a day that makes it official. Are you willing to share a picture of your favorite pajamas? 

Can you write haiku? What do you think of ours?

It’s time to play now
Put your work away, okay.
And let’s have some fun!

Today begins NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WEEK. We can’t thank our volunteers enough and are grateful for all their support during a year of quarantine. We’re asking our #volunteers to answer this question: How did you play today? #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day  

It’s not what you think. Have you ever tried hanging out laundry? Today celebrates this natural way to dry our clothes. Find your brightest crayons and get creative with this coloring page. 

Who do you look like? Someone famous, a family member, or maybe you’re a twin? Share who you think your friends and family look like, or have all your friends plan to dress alike today and Zoom to see if you pulled it off! 

Thank your children’s (and your) kindergarten teacher today. Give them a call or send them a note. What's your favorite memory of playing in Kindergarten? 

There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day, from selecting re-usable products instead of disposable ones to picking up trash on your street or local park. Playtime has been a proud partner of Urban Beet, which creates and teaches youth about urban farms. 

We speaketh to thee in the voice of the historical bard to celebrate his day. Playeth a game to see who can sayeth the most words like Shakespeare. 

What better time than on World Book Day to relax with a book. Reading exercises the brain, improves concentration, and stimulates your imagination. What’s your favorite children’s book? 

It's a perfect time to tell your loved ones how much you care for them. It's also a great day to donate to a local organization supporting children in need (hint hint!). 

“Can you hear me now?” Many of us use our phones for so many things except what they were originally designed for—talking to one another. Take time to call friends and family and wish them a happy telephone day! 

Pets can be a wonderful addition to the home, offering companionship, comfort, and play! Be sure to do your research on the best pet for your family, and enjoy the benefits of an animal buddy.

What’s your story? Gather friends and family and take turns sharing a story about one of your best play memories as a child. Share it with us on social media! #30DaysOfPlay #DidUPlay2day  

Dress up as your favorite superhero, and send a note of thanks to the superhero in your life. We’re sending a huge thank you to our superheroes of play: the many donors and volunteers who support us! 

We don’t often think much about zippers until they’re broken, but since it’s National Zipper Day, see how many clothes you have with a zipper? Who in your family has the most zippers in their closet? 

Whether it’s Salsa, the Electric Slide, the Hustle, the Macarena, the Twist, or Gangnam Style, let’s put on our dancing shoes and celebrate International Dance Day! What’s your favorite dance? 

“What’s up, doc?” Bugs Bunny has been delighting audiences since this day in 1938. Gather the family and enjoy a few cartoons, and see who can imitate him the best. 

For National Poem In Your Pocket Day, write or print your favorite poem, carry it with you, and surprise everyone you meet by reading it to them. Share your poem with us! And find wonderful poetry at Poets.org.