Every year the first day of summer is celebrated big holiday- International Children's Day. On this day in all schools, children's institutions there are concerts, evenings. In urban entertainment centers films are shown for children, contests and festivals are organized. Music, children's laughter is heard everywhere, gifts are handed over. This holiday is joyful and sad at the same time. It is wonderful that our children are happy, but it is sad that so many have to be protected and even saved from adult cruelty.

History of Children's Day

It is believed that the first child's holiday was organized back in 1925 by the Chinese consul in the United States, in the city of San Francisco. He invited children of Chinese descent who had no parents to his place on the Duan-wu-tsze holiday. They looked in fascination at the performance of dragon boats (this is a holiday dedicated to them), received gifts and were happy. Similar holidays began to be held every year. Whether this event or something else - history is silent - served as the starting point for declaring June 1 International Children's Day. The holiday was loudly talked about in the same 1925 in Geneva, at the World Conference on the Welfare of Children.

Subsequently, the tragic war years in the history of not only Europe, but the whole world prevented the date from being celebrated. After the Second World War, in 1949, the International Democratic Federation of Women was organized, it was held in Paris, it raised many social issues for which there are no boundaries. And it was here that they remembered about a good pre-war undertaking - the Children's Day. Since 1950, the International Children's Day (in English - "International Children" s Day) has been celebrated all over the world.

Purposes and traditions of the holiday

International Children's Day is not only about fun, laughter, songs and entertainment. It is also an opportunity for adults to loudly declare their desire and opportunities to do something good for those children who need to be protected.

And these are not only guys from unsettled, starving countries of Asia, Africa, where wars are going on, and children are dying without counting. These are the children of Russia, who have no parents, who live in orphanages, abandoned by their mother and father. These are children who were abused, who were kicked out of the house, or they themselves had to leave the terrible parental life in unrestrained drunkenness and bullying.

On International Children's Day, representatives of most public organizations, enterprises that have the opportunity to help, try to visit orphanages, shelters and other state institutions for children left without parents, who would not be better, but we have them! And, unfortunately, they will not disappear soon.

Gifts, surprises, excursions to museums, children's theaters, circus, zoo; meetings with artists, singers and musicians on this day can distract a child from sad thoughts, at least briefly warm his soul, push away the feeling of uselessness in this world. By the way, come to the nearest Orphanage with gifts, entertainment, invitations to creativity, sports competitions, anyone can. And you! And this will also be a tribute to the holiday of protecting the child from the difficult circumstances of life.

In an ordinary family, parents and grandparents also try to celebrate the holiday. But at home, of course, he does not carry that deep meaning of universal protection of childhood. At home, just the joy of communication, celebration. Adults give gifts, take the kid to the zoo, to the cinema, to the competition of drawings on the asphalt, where both children and adults draw together the world, the globe, and the symbol of the International Children's Day - the own flag of this date. It is green, the color of peace and tranquility, in the center is the sign of the earth and multi-colored men, symbolizing the differences and unity of people living on Earth.

When did this holiday - Children's Day - start?

June 1 is one of the oldest international holidays... It was first discussed at the World Geneva Conference, which was dedicated to the issues of the well-being of children. This was in 1925. It was decided to celebrate Children's Day on June 1.

There is only one version of why this holiday fell precisely at the beginning of summer, but the validity of this version has not yet been proven. The fact is that in the same year, when the conference was held in Geneva, the Duan-wu jie holiday (that is, the Dragon Boat Festival), established by the Consul of China, was held in San Francisco. This holiday was organized specifically for orphans and fell, by chance, on June 1.

The Children's Day was finally established only in 1949, after the Second World War, when the problems of children were of particular relevance. After the war, the generation that needed to build the future of the world presented an important issue. In this regard, an oath was taken at the Paris Congress of Women in 1949, which proclaimed the intention to fight for world peace, for the happiness of children as the basis of such a struggle. For the first time, International Children's Day was celebrated on June 1, 1950, the holiday affected 51 countries. Having enlisted the support of the UN, since then on June 1, the holiday began to be celebrated annually.

This holiday has its own flag, which is recognized in more than 30 different countries. On a green background there is a schematic representation of the globe and 5 multi-colored figures of people.

Green stands for harmony, freshness and fertility. The background suggests that everything has been created around in order to develop normally and safely. We are only required to give the opportunity to ourselves and others to take advantage of all these benefits. The globe of the earth depicted on the flag is a symbol of our common home, its blue color reminds of the peace and unity that can be achieved if you treat each other with love and understanding. Human figures on the flag symbolize tolerance for different races, diversity. The star, which is formed by children's feet, symbolizes the light emitted by us after we all unite and forget about the strife for the sake of the happiness of children. Five multi-colored dots - symbolizes the fact that we all come from the human race.

Above the flag is a blue figurine - this is a symbol of God, who loves everyone equally. And we, as his image and likeness, must therefore love and respect people, regardless of their skin color, race, religion, wealth and other factors.

How is it customary to celebrate Children's Day? In Russia, Children's Day is celebrated under the patronage of the Russian Children's Fund, the main participants are orphans, children with disabilities, kids from large and low-income families. It always begins to celebrate with various discussions, speeches, conferences on the well-being of children around the world. The TV program specifically includes films for and about children, contests and competitions are held on the streets, in which everyone can participate and even leave with a gift. This day is usually accompanied by exhibitions and educational events, concert programs. June 1 - this is the holding of various charity events with gifts and surprises, which are aimed at improving living conditions, protecting the interests of children, as well as promoting spiritual and physical development the future generation around the world.

International Children's Day aims to protect the interests of the world's youngest people who are at risk different kinds, because of the mistakes of adults, they suffer deprivation. And this happens in all countries of the world, unfortunately.

Children are the most valuable thing we have, which is why it is so important to take care of them, to make their life better. After all, a child's smile and happy eyes are probably the greatest wealth. And the International Children's Day reminds us once again that absolutely every child deserves a cheerful and happy childhood!

Extracurricular activities

Children's Day: history, traditions and facts

Celebrating Children's Day began after the 1949 congress, at which the International Democratic Federation of Women decided to ensure the well-being of the younger generation. Since then, the UN has considered one of the main directions of its activities to protect the rights, life and health of children.

Entertainment events dedicated to this day are held in many countries. Children's drawing contests are held on the squares of city parks. Children paint the asphalt with multi-colored chalk: portraits of mom and dad, clear sun and flowering meadows - everything that lives in the children's imagination, and that is understandable without words to every little citizen of any country.

Satya Das is an experienced family psychologist and philosopher, author and presenter of the popular seminars "Neskuchnaya family psychology", will tell you about how you really need to interact, communicate and treat children, how to manifest what is inherent in them. Your children are wonderful, creative and harmonious personalities! You just need to help them develop this beginning!

In 1950, the first International Children's Day was held on June 1... Subsequently, the holiday began to be celebrated annually around the world. And the main legal document, which deals with the rights of children at the international level, was the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations on November 20, 1989. The convention was signed by 61 countries, and in July 1990 it was approved in the USSR.

In Russia, children's rights are regulated by the federal law"On the basic guarantees of the rights of the child in Russian Federation"Dated July 24, 1998. The law establishes the basic guarantees of the rights and interests of the child, prescribed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Many schools and preschool institutions conduct sports competitions, creative contests, quizzes and others entertainment programs dedicated to the celebration of Children's Day. But to amuse the children is not the main task of the holiday. All creative and cultural events on this day are designed to draw the attention of adults to pressing children's problems. The purpose of the holiday is to remind the state of the observance of children's rights to life, education and recreation; on protection from violence and exploitation of child labor. It is no coincidence that in most countries childhood is considered one of the most important stages in a person's life: it is during this happy period that the future citizen prepares for full-fledged interaction with society and lays the foundation for the disclosure of his creative and intellectual potential.

The new book of the famous family psychologist, laureate of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of education, author of the bestselling books "What to do if ..." and "What to do if ... 2" is addressed to parents of children and adolescents with special behaviors. The publication will help you find a common language with your child, navigate difficult situations and conflicts, get out of them with dignity, maintain patience, restore understanding and peace in the family.

In our country Children's Day has traditionally been celebrated for many years under the auspices of the Russian Children's Fund. The main guests of the holiday are usually orphans, disabled children and children from large families.

Have International Day children have their own flag... Against a bright green background, which symbolizes harmony, growth and fertility, figures of children - white, yellow, red, blue and black - are circling around the planet Earth icon. The figures of the children symbolize diversity and tolerance. And the emblem of the Earth, placed in the center, is our common home.

Children's Day, which falls on the first day of summer, is one of the oldest international holidays, celebrated around the world since 1950. The decision to hold it was taken by the International Democratic Federation of Women at a special session in November 1949. The UN supported this initiative and declared the protection of the rights, life and health of children as one of the priority areas of its activities.

International Children's Day is, first of all, a reminder to adults of the need to respect children's rights to life, to freedom of opinion and religion, to education, rest and leisure, to protection from physical and psychological violence, to protection from exploitation of child labor as necessary conditions to form a humane and just society.

In 1959, the UN adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which included articles urging parents, state bodies, local authorities and governments, and non-governmental organizations to recognize the rights and freedoms of children set forth in them and strive for their observance. The Declaration was only advisory in nature and was not binding.

The first and main international legal document in which the rights of the child were considered at the level of international law, became the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the UN on November 20, 1989. The Convention was signed by 61 countries, on July 13, 1990, the Convention was ratified by the USSR.

Children make up approximately 20-25% of the population in each country. V different countries they are exposed to various dangers from which they need to be protected: in developed countries, these are the negative consequences of addiction to television and computers (serious studies have shown that children tend to copy in life those violent actions that they see on the screen or during computer games), in Western Europe they are concerned about the too early sexual development of children, in Japan the main danger is seen in the destruction of traditional methods of upbringing and the increasingly widespread penetration of Western habits and forms of behavior, in the least developed countries of Africa and Asia, children are threatened by hunger, AIDS, illiteracy and military conflicts.

According to the statistical collection "Children in Russia" published in 2010, there are more than 26 million minors in our country. Every year the child population of Russia is decreasing by 1 million people, and the number of children left without parental care and in orphanages is increasing by 4-6 thousand people a year. The total number of orphans and children left without parental care is about 714 thousand people, of which more than 136 thousand are brought up in boarding schools.

According to the Ministry of Health and Social Development at the end of 2010, almost 18.5 million children (or 71% of the total number of children) attend preschool and general education institutions, spending most of their active time there.

In 2010, according to official data, 20.7% of schoolchildren had the first health group, the second health group - 59.2%, and 18.3% - the third health group, i.e. chronic diseases, the fourth and fifth health groups (disabling diseases) had 1.8% of children. There is an increase in the number of children who graduate from school with a decrease in hearing acuity by 44%, with a decrease in visual acuity by 2.7 times, with poor posture by 45%, with scoliosis by 5.7 times.

According to the report of Pavel Astakhov, the Commissioner for the Rights of the Child of the Russian Federation, the unfavorable dynamics of the growth in the number of sexual crimes committed against minors and young children remains. In 2010, according to official data alone, more than 9.5 thousand crimes were committed against the sexual inviolability of children.

Children's rights in Russia are protected by the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Children's Rights in the Russian Federation" of July 24, 1998. The law establishes the basic guarantees of the rights and legitimate interests of the child, provided for by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The state recognizes childhood as an important stage in human life and proceeds from the principles of the priority of preparing children for a full life in society, developing socially significant and creative activity in them, fostering high moral qualities, patriotism and citizenship in them.

Tomorrow, the children will have a reason for double joy: firstly, the long-awaited summer will finally come, and secondly, the "official" is celebrated on June 1 children's party- International Children's Day. And today we invite you to find out the history of this holiday, as well as get acquainted with its features and traditions.

Tomorrow, children will have a reason for double joy: firstly, the long-awaited summer will finally come, and secondly, it is on June 1 that the "official" children's holiday is celebrated - International Children's Day... Immediately, we note that this is not only a national holiday, but also a universal one, since it concerns each of us (after all, we were once children and needed special protection from the cruelty and violence of the adult world).

And today we invite you to find out the history of this holiday, as well as get acquainted with its features and traditions.

History of Children's Day

There are several assumptions and versions of the formation of Children's Day.

Version No. 1

On June 1, 1925, a conference dedicated to the welfare of children around the world was held in Geneva, during which it was decided to celebrate Children's Day.

Version No. 2

In the same year 1925, on June 1, the consul from China organized a children's party in San Francisco for orphans from his country, in honor of which a national boat (dragon) festival was held. This idea was liked by the world community and as a result appeared international children's day.

Version No. 3

In 1945, when the issue of the well-being of children left without parental care as a result of World War II worried many people, a women's congress was held in Paris, the participants of which vowed to fight for world peace for the sake of a bright future for all children and established by their decision Children's Day , the celebration of which was scheduled for June 1. Already 5 years later (in 1950), the first massive (international) celebration of this day took place, which has survived to this day.

In 1959, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was announced, which had no legal force, but still became the basis of many legislative documents in many states. Then came the Convention on the Rights of the Child (54 articles on the rights of children and responsibilities of adults), ratified by 1990 by most countries in the world.

It is interesting that the celebration of Children's Day has grown into a tradition (and in each country it has its own tradition), and the holiday itself even had a flag. The flag symbolism is expressed in the image of a children's round dance on a green background, in the center of which our Planet is located. Colored men (skin colors of different races) unite children into one star - a symbol of light.

Tasks and customs of Children's Day

The main task child protection holiday is a reminder to adults about children's rights to education, personal integrity, rest and free time... After all, our future will be corrected by these children.

• public organizations visit orphanages where the most vulnerable groups of the population live - abandoned children and orphans;
• children's events are held in public places and parks;
• television tunes in to the children's wave.

On this day, adults try to do everything so that children forget about adversity and "recharge" with positive emotions. And for this, you can use everything that children like so much: sweets, entertainment, gifts, etc.

Children from full-fledged families have the opportunity to spend this day with their parents. Trips to the zoo, cafes and cinema, as well as participation of the whole family in various events organized by the city authorities and public organizations. By the way, the "drawings on asphalt" competition is very popular on this day, where you can almost always find a picture of a flag children's party: the planet is buried in greenery and 5 colored men hug it.

As Russia celebrates Children's Day

The Children's Fund of Russia has long been the patron saint of Children's Day. Particular attention is paid to children from low-income and large families. Under the patronage of this foundation and with the active support of local authorities, in all cities of Russia, public events designed to create a festive mood for both children and their parents.

On the first day of summer, music is heard everywhere, sports competitions, concerts and competitions are organized. The fun continues all day long on a grand scale.

Eminent citizens of the country (actors, athletes, government officials) visit children's institutions where orphans are located on this day, since it is this category of children who need help and, undoubtedly, a festive mood.

Do not forget about the traditional drawings on the asphalt on this day: June 1st traffic is blocked on some streets and the roads literally bloom from the vivid drawings of childhood. On the gray asphalt, real pictures appear on the most important topic for every person - peace in the family and on the whole planet.

How to celebrate a children's party as part of a family?

On this day, the task of each parent is to pay maximum attention to their child. Even if the work week is in full swing, you can devote the whole evening to him - the most important person in the life of every parent. If you managed to take a day off / vacation at work or a holiday fell on a day off, then try to organize events from which your child will truly enjoy: trips, excursions, hikes, exhibitions, etc.

And you also need to remember that there are children deprived of parental love, affection and care. A gift for an orphan child living in a nearby shelter will not only give him at least a few minutes of happiness and faith in human kindness, but also fill your child's heart with a sense of compassion and mercy.

What darkens Children's Day

Despite the fact that for more than a dozen years, many public organizations and authorities in most countries of the world have been actively fighting against manifestations of violence against children (and this, for a minute, 1/4 of the entire population of the planet), about the unconditional happy childhood for every child, we can only dream. And in many respects the absolute cloudless childhood all over the world is hindered by our actions, technological progress and the economic disadvantage of some countries. For example:

• In countries with a developed civilization, the negative influence of television is obvious, which has a detrimental effect on the child's perception of reality. Experts have long been concerned that many programs, films and even children's cartoons zombify children's consciousness.
• The harmful influence of computer technology (mainly aggressive games) results in the malicious behavior of children. By destroying the child's psyche, games contribute to the manifestation of cruelty on the street.
• Active promotion of sexual relations, the presence of erotic elements in advertising and the unwillingness of parents to talk with children about the negative impact of sex in early age, led to the fact that among adolescents, the desire for early sexual activity is increasing.
• The difficult living conditions and unfavorable economic situation in the countries of Asia and Africa caused high level childhood morbidity and hunger among the local population.
• Military conflicts still deprive the younger generation of a full life and the opportunity to study normally, since for children in a combat zone, the issue of survival remains in the first place.

And these are only those global children's problems that everyone knows about. But there are still local problems faced by children in every single family. And you can list these problems endlessly.