Author: Lisa Mungovan

Going to the doctor to get a flu vaccine, is an important way to stay healthy. A nasal spray called FluMist, is another option for people who hate shots. FluMist is available at pharmacies, but you can even have it delivered to your home, and give the flu vaccine to yourself.

Today is the International Day Of Sign Languages. The roughly 72,000,000 deaf people around the world, use more than 300 versions of sign language. There is also a simpler international sign language, used to communicate with people in other countries. Learning to sign the alphabet, is a great place to start.

It’s Dogs In Politics Day, originally called Checkers Day, after President Nixon’s dog. US Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush Junior, Obama, and Biden also had dogs in their First Families! Make your dog President for today, then have a family checkers tournament. Don’t cheat, because President Poochie won’t pardon you!

Today is World Rhino Day, and Elephant Appreciation Day. Both animals are endangered. Poachers hunt rhinoceroses for their horns, and elephants for their tusks. Their habitats are also disappearing. The white rhino is the largest rhino species, averaging about 5000 pounds and 6 feet tall, while the largest African elephant was 13 feet tall and 24,000 pounds!

In the United States, today is Voter Registration Day. Kids who will be 18 by November 8th, can register now, to vote in the next election. Ask your parents, if they are registered to vote. They can register, check their registration status, or request absentee ballots, at vote.org. They’re voting for your future!

Today is World Car Free Day. You could just stay home, but where’s the challenge in that? Instead, try to walk, bike, or use public transportation for your daily adventures. Then make a pact, to try to use cars less. It’s better for the planet, and the exercise will keep you healthy!

It’s Hobbit Day, in honor of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins’s birthday. Hobbits eat breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper, so there’s plenty of time to celebrate White Chocolate Day and Ice Cream Cone Day. It’s also Centenarian Day, celebrating people who have lived 100 years. That’s a hobbit’s average lifespan!

Pumpkin spice everything has been popping up for a few weeks now, but today is the official first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun is directly in line with the Earth’s equator. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the first day of spring, called the vernal equinox!

It’s Miniature Golf Day. Many beach towns have mini golf courses with dinosaurs! After getting a hole-in-one, have a snack to celebrate Pecan Cookie Day, and Chai Day. Since it’s also World Gratitude Day, sharing spiced tea and pecan cookies is a great way, to thank whoever took you golfing.

Today is the United Nations International Day of Peace. This year’s theme is, “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” World leaders don’t always keep the peace, so we have to create our own environment of peace. Begin at home, by not fighting with your siblings. Bring your peaceful attitude to school, too,