Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Holidays

•   Bringing Boxing Day to Bellingham
  

  Boxing Day on December 26th isn’t a holiday traditionally celebrated by Americans, but it’s an annual observance for our neighbors to the north in Canada. Although it’s often associated with Day-After Christmas sales, Boxing Day has its origins in Victorian England, when gifts were given to servants and the less fortunate on the day after Christmas. Here are some ways to continue the spirit of giving beyond Christmas with ideas for a Boxing Day in Bellingham.

•   Celebrate Human Rights at Home and Abroad
  

  Across the world today, December 10, 2009, Human Rights Day is celebrated in commemoration of the day that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to promote an international "common standard of achievement of all people and all nations." Although this type of language might be hard for children to grasp, the basic ideals of respect and freedom for everyone is easy for all to understand.

•   Post-Turkey Fitness Ideas
  

  Why does everyone get so sleepy after a big Thanksgiving meal? It’s a myth that it’s because of the tryptophan in the turkey. According to blogSci, any large meal of fatty, starchy foods will make you feel "tired and lethargic." But that's no excuse for having a lazy Thursday, even if it is a holiday. At some point in the day, make an effort to work in some physical activity into your day.

•   Making the Most of Thanksgiving
  

  In 1863, the United States was in the depths of the struggle of the Civil War. Still, on October 3rd, President Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, establishing the holiday we still celebrate today. Thanksgiving provides a great opportunity to look beyond the pressures of daily life and to focus on the many blessings that we enjoy. Following are some of the traditions and activities for Thanksgiving that our family has enjoyed in the past.

•   Happy Halloween, Bellinghamsters!
  

  You can always check our list of Local Activities to find Bellingham and Whatcom County fun that the whole family can enjoy. But if you're looking for something to do with kids on Halloween besides trick-or-treating, you are in serious luck. A lot of great organizations have tons of fun (and sometimes FREE) activities in Bellingham this year. From fun runs to apple bobbing, to dances and more, there is plenty of Halloween fun to be found for kids of all ages this year.

•   Fun Festivities for Mother's Day Weekend
  

  One of the most significant relationships we have in our lives is with our mothers. President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a national holiday in 1911 after Anna Jarvis started a campaign to formally honor mothers for their work as peacemakers and activists. But some people think that Mother’s Day has turned into a commercialized observance. Perhaps one of the best gifts that a mother can get this Sunday isn’t a card or flowers or presents, but time with her kids.

•   Celebrate Earth Day and Youth Service Day
  

  It might not be a coincidence that Earth Day, officially observed on April 22, and National Youth Service Day, April 24-26, occur at the same time of year. Both celebrations recognize the ongoing need for volunteer support and the importance of getting kids involved in community efforts. Check out some local opportunities to celebrate Earth Day and National Youth Service Day, no matter your age.

•   Turn Off the Lights for Earth Hour
  

  What are you doing on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM? If you’ve chosen to participate in the third annual Earth Hour, it means switching the lights off for one hour in a campaign against global warming. Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when over two million households and businesses turned off the lights for one hour. The now worldwide climate change initiative is organized by WWF, the global conservation organization.

•   Santa, Family Traditions, and Responsibilities
  

  As soon as Halloween is over, Christmas bleeds through the world of marketing and the complaints soon arise. But, it seems to be our annual ritual. While parents may have little hope of changing the trends of media and marketplace, they might be wise to focus their attention on something they have a bit more of a probability of impacting: helping kids understand the value and truth about Santa.

•   'Tis the Season for Christmas Traditions
  

  Many of us have holiday traditions carried down from past generations, either because they were dear to us as children or because they’re what we know. But it’s never too late to start new traditions for your family. If you’re looking for ways to create new meaning for kids, take the focus off materialism that’s associated with the big day, or just celebrate the season, here are a few ideas for right now or next year.

•   Plenty of Halloween Fun in Bellingham
  

  This year, Halloween started out on the windy and rainy side, but the sun managed to peek through the clouds for a while as costumed kids and parents trekked through the streets of Bellingham for a variety of great Halloween events around town. The Neighborhood-Kids.com team also joined in the fun, decorating the studio with streamers and cobwebs, and passing out candy and toys to all the kids for the Downtown Trick or Treat.

•   Stay Safe on Halloween in Bellingham
  

  Halloween combines two popular childhood activities—playing dress-up and eating candy—so it’s no surprise that the holiday is one of the most popular annual events in America for kids. But, as a parent, you need to make sure your kids are safe while Trick or Treating. So here are some tips to remember when the kids are heading out the door on Halloween night to keep them healthy and happy.

•   Quick and Inexpensive Halloween Costumes
  

  Why spend a ton of money on a Halloween costume that kids are only going to wear for one night? Don’t forget that you can still get creative with costumes without spending too much money. In fact, you can probably whip up a great outfit using clothes and items that you already have lying around the house. Here are just a few ideas for any kids, or adults, that are on a budget for Halloween this year.

•   A Weekend of Noteworthy Days
  

  This weekend features three holidays. Well, perhaps “notable days” is a better phrase. None of these occurrences warrant a federal holiday, but we still thought it was would be fun to take a quick look at three interesting days with almost nothing in common except that they all happen to take place over the next three days. Get ready for some fun with Friday the 13th, Flag Day, and Father Day right around the corner.

•   Observing Memorial Day in Bellingham
  

  Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was first observed in the United States as a time to honor and remember fallen soldiers of the Civil War. It was called Decoration Day because it was traditional for the graves to be adorned with flowers and flags. Along with a brief history of this holiday, discover some of the ways to observe and honor American soldiers right here in Bellingham.

•   Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
  

  It's a common the misconception that Cinco de Mayo refers to Mexico’s Independence Day, which actually takes place in September. But Cinco de Mayo is technically not a federal Mexican holiday and is primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla. Much like St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo has been a way for Mexican immigrants to observe their cultural traditions in their new homes around the world.

•   Bellingham Celebrates Earth Day
  

  Twenty million Americans participated in the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970. Nearly 40 years later, efforts towards environmental preservation are acknowledged on this day at a global level. Many organizations and communities in Bellingham held celebrations throughout the preceding week and people of all ages participated in clean-up parties to help keep our city beautiful.

•   It's A Great Day for the Irish
  

  If you’re caught not wearing a shade of green on March 17th, you might be the unlucky recipient of a pinch, whether you’re Irish or not. The modern celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland and across the global has come a long way since the traditional Catholic feast day was first celebrated in honor of Ireland’s patron saint. Find out a little bit more about this holiday that celebrates the history, folklore, and culture of Ireland.

•   Leap for Leap Day!
  

  Once every four years, we tack on an extra day to keep the calendar year synchronized with the solar year. And in a world where there never seems to be enough time, Leap Day can be a catch-up day to finally clean out the garage or to (finally) prepare those taxes that are due in April. But in case you haven’t thought about what to do with the precious extra hours today, here’s a list of 29 Ways to Keep the Family Busy on Leap Day.

•   43 Facts about the American Presidency
  

  With an election coming up this fall, America definitely has presidential fever. No matter what your political affiliations may be, the annual recognition of President’s Day is a great time to explain the democratic process to your kids. And even if the Electoral College goes a little over their heads, here’s a list of some interesting and kid-friendly facts about the American presidency and the 43 presidents we’ve had over the past 200 years.

•   The Origins of Valentine's Day
  

  When you’re a kid, Valentine’s Day is one of those great occurrences where adults let you eat candy and have a party at school for no good reason. On top of all the candy and sugary sweets, you get to make cards with glitter and markers and all kinds of fun, messy stuff. When you’re six-years-old, does life get any better? But where did the origin for these Valentine's Day traditions come from? The story is a little bizarre, but its an interesting history lesson too.

•   Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  

  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an instrumental figure in the American Civil Rights Movements of the 1950s and 60s. A third generation Baptist minister, King devoted his life to help realize equality for all people, regard-less of skin color, race, religion, or gender. For the work he and so many others did to spread a message of peace and freedom in our country and around the world, Neighborhood-Kids.com celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

•   Memories and Traditions
  

  When you hear the word “tradition,” you probably think of somber rituals where things of great importance are remembered and revered. Images of Tevye from “Fiddler on the Roof” belting out “Tradition!” on a country road might come to mind. Tradition is a word that I always think about during the holidays.

•   Chanukah Celebration
  

  On Sunday, December 9, 2007, at 4:30 PM, just after sunset, the Chabad Jewish Community Center organized a community-wide Chanukah celebration that commemorated the holiday with the lighting of a 6-foot tall menorah on the Fairhaven Village Green.