What is International Left Handers Day?

International Left Handers Day is an international day observed annually on August 13 to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of the left handers.

When is International Left Handers Day?

Sunday, 13 August

Activities:

• Create your own lefty zone:
  • Cutting – using right-handed scissors in left hand is an excellent example of totally right-biased design that doesn’t work well.
  • Drawing a measured line with a ruler
  • Having the computer mouse on the left of the keyboard and try drawing a shape on screen, or clicking and dragging – we usually have to do this with our right hand as the mouse is shared, and always set up for right-handed users 
  • Pour from water jugs using your left hand
  • Eating & drinking – reverse cutlery and have drink in left hand
  • If you have left handed guitar, give lessons to the right-handers.
  • Practice recorder or other instruments with hands reversed (top and bottom)
  • Illustrate an image with your left hand or write your name
• Group lesson - Children learning their left from their right (turn into a phycial activity where children need to listen and follow verbal instructions to turn left, right, forward and backwards) 
• Infants room - Dance to the Hokey Pokey

What is International Youth Day?

International Youth Day is to raise awareness designated by the United Nations. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to the problems young people face today and to unite and celebrate youth worldwide.The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000.

2023 Theme: “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”
To draw worldwide focus towards various issues surrounding the youths.

When is International Youth Day?

Saturday, 12 August

Activities:

• Staff project - Be Aware of the UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development & The Global Goals.
• Teach the children about sustainable development
• Encourage and empower the children to play a role in their own future.

What is International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples?

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples raises awareness and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also celebrate and honors the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.

When is International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples?

Wednesday, 9 August

Activites:

• Start your own hall of fame featuring Indigenous role models.
• Listen to Indigenous musicians or watch a movie about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history.
• Particpate Indigenous arts and crafts.
• Research Indigenous history online or visit you library to find books about Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples.
• Intentional teaching - Learning the meanings of local or national Indigenous place names and words.
• Invite local Indigenous Elders to speak or give a Welcome to Country at your service or via zoom.
• Invite an Indigenous sportsperson or artist to visit you or via zoom.
• Incursion for the children to participate and learn about Indigenous history, culture and dances 
• Indigenous Inspired Story Stones - children looking for stones in the garden and creating their own stories

What is Dental Health Week?

Dental Health Week takes place in the first week of August, as it is the Australian Dental Association's major annual oral health promotion event. Its aim is to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health in every aspect of their lives.

It has three main objectives:

• Promote oral health education and awareness in the general community, schools and early education
• Motivate and educate dental professionals to promote oral health
• Encourage ongoing collaboration within the dental profession

When is Dental Health Week? 

7th to 13th of August

Activities: 

• Schedule a visit or zoom call with a local dentist who can discuss and demonstrate the importance and how to ensure they are taking care of their teeth.
• Promote intentional healthy eating activities - Cooking activities i.e. Fruit Kebabs
• Discuss food chains which outlines sometimes and always foods that are good for you and your teeth
• Encourage children to use their fine motor skills to practice the correct procedure of brushing their teeth and flossing using a model brush and teeth
• Celebrity Heads with Fruit and Vegetable - Children will wear the fruit and vegetable headbands. The child will sit facing the other children and describe what type of fruit is on their head. (ideal for preschoolers)
• How much sugar is in what we drink? - Experiment by counting how many spoons of sugar are in; soft drinks, milk, juice v's water and discussing how a lot of sugar can damage our teeth.
• Celebrate teeth through dental stories

Additional resources clicking the following links:

• dhsv.org.au/oral-health-programs/celebrate-teeth-at-storytime
• https://www.dhsv.org.au/events/healthysmiles/suggested-activities
• https://www.ada.org.au/Dental-Health-Week-2020/Resources

The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW provides a library of convenient and cost-effective webinars-on-demand particularly for existing and prospective Approved Providers, Nominated Supervisors and Responsible Persons, centre directors and Educators. These Webinars On-Demand are for you to rent for up to 3 months per subscription!

ACA NSW members will need to contact 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au to receive the individual coupon codes in order to attract member pricing.