National Absolutely Incredible Kid Day (3rd Thursday in March)
National Absolutely Incredible Kid Day lands on the third Thursday of March.
If you’ve never heard of it, the concept is straightforward: tell a kid something specific that you appreciate about them.
Not a generic “You’re amazing.” Something real.
It sounds small, but most kids don’t hear direct praise as often as we assume they do.
When is the Holiday?
This quirky holiday is observed every year on the third Thursday of March. This means the date changes annually, but the mission remains the same, empowering and celebrating children.
Who Invented It?
The day began in 1997 with Camp Fire, a youth organization that’s been around since 1910. The whole concept was simple: write a short, encouraging letter to a child.
No ceremony. No prizes. Just something thoughtful and specific.
The History of the Holiday
The day was launched in 1997 by Camp Fire as a letter-writing campaign. The emphasis was on direct encouragement rather than awards or ceremonies.
It gradually expanded into schools and community groups, but the central idea remains the same: recognition through words.
Top 5 Facts About the Holiday
- It’s always held on a Thursday. Camp Fire chose a weekday on purpose, since most of the participation happens in schools.
- The original campaign focused specifically on handwritten letters, long before social media shout-outs became common.
- The holiday was launched in 1997, but Camp Fire itself dates back to 1910, originally serving girls before becoming co-ed decades later.
- Teachers often report that writing truly specific praise (“I noticed how patient you were during group work”) is harder than writing general compliments.
- Many adults who receive encouragement letters as kids remember them years later, especially if the praise was tied to effort rather than talent.
Coloring Page
If you’re marking the day with younger kids, this printable coloring page adds a simple, creative way to join in.
Activities to Celebrate
The simplest way to mark the day is to write a short note. It doesn’t need to be long or overly sentimental. A few sentences pointing out something specific you’ve noticed, effort, kindness, persistence, usually mean more than big, dramatic praise.
If you want to go a little further, you could let them choose something small for the day. Pick dinner. Choose the family movie. Decide what game everyone plays. Giving kids real decision-making power, even briefly, can feel surprisingly significant.
Some families keep it low-key and just spend intentional time together, baking something, working on a project, or heading out for a walk where the focus is simply on them.
In classrooms, teachers sometimes set aside time to write individual notes or encourage students to write positive messages to one another. It can feel awkward at first, but it often turns thoughtful quickly.
It doesn’t need to be a big production. The impact usually comes from the words, not the event.
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Links to Resources
- Encouraging Printable Lunch Notes – If you don’t have time to sit and write something from scratch, these are easy to print and tuck into a lunchbox.
- Affirmation Cards for Kids – Simple, short statements that younger kids especially respond well to, good for quick reminders rather than long talks.
- The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes – A picture book about a child who hates getting things wrong. It’s a helpful starting point for conversations about perfectionism.
- Me and My Feelings: A Kids’ Guide to Understanding and Expressing Themselves – A practical guide for helping kids put words to emotions. It works well if you’re trying to move beyond “I’m fine” or “I don’t know.”
Related Holidays
- National Kid Inventor Day (January 17) – A day that celebrates young problem-solvers and creative thinkers. It’s a good excuse to let kids experiment, build something random, or sketch out a big idea.
- Random Acts of Kindness Day (February 17) – Centered on simple, thoughtful gestures, the kind that don’t require money or planning, just intention.
- National Teenager Day (March 21) – Focuses specifically on teens and the in-between stage of growing up, independence, and figuring things out.
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