Want a Holiday Every Day? Check Out Our Full Year Guide

In our guide to kid-friendly celebrations for every day of the year, A Year-Round Guide to Daily Fun with Kids you will find our picks for fun every day, broken down by month. Use our daily calendar picks to spark creativity, plan after-school fun, or make winter weekends extra magical.

Fun January Holidays for Kids – A Holiday to Celebrate Every Day

January 1 – New Year’s Day

Check your local calendar to find fun outings to celebrate the New Year in your city…or try one of these other New Year’s Day traditions:

• My favorite tradition is the Polar Plunge! Take a swim in the nearest ocean or lake (or pool!). Just be sure to have lots of towels and hot cocoa waiting for you!
• Eat black-eyed peas for luck; try a recipe for something traditional like Hoppin' John. (And if you don't like the food, you can listen to the band!) 
• Watch the Rose Parade (or the Mummers Parade)

• Watching the first sunrise of the new year is called "hatsuhinode" in Japan. It's a lovely tradition, especially if you've got young kids and are getting up early anyway!

January 2 – World Introvert Day

After a busy holiday season, your little introvert may need a break. Today is a great day to just relax, not see people, and maybe not even change out of pajamas. It's also a good day to talk to kids about how it's fine to need time to yourself, to rest and recharge. 

January 3 – National Write to Congress Day

See something you don't like? It won't change unless you get involved. Sit down as a family and have everyone write a letter to your Congressperson about something that concerns you. It's great to teach kids to get involved, and fascinating to hear their concerns. Here's how you can find your representative and how to contact them.

January 4 – Trivia Day

Host a trivia contest at your house! Here's the easiest way to get started: We've got 100 trivia questions just for kids!

January 5 – National Whipped Cream Day

What kid doesn't like whipped cream? You can put it on a hot fudge sundae, on hot chocolate (check out our favorite hot chocolate recipes) or just fill an empty pie shell with whipped cream and eat it (or, you know, smash it into someone's face!).

January 6 – Epiphany

Also called Three Kings Day and Dia de Los Reyes; Epiphany commemorates the Magi's visit to Jesus. It's also, traditionally, the day you take down your Christmas tree.

January 7 – National Pass Gas Day

Hello, there's a FART day? What kid doesn't want to celebrate it? Here are awesome ways to celebrate National Pass Gas Day with your kids:

• Surprise them by leaving whoopee cushions all over the house!
• Read Walter the Farting Dog as a bedtime story. (It's a classic at my house.)
• Have beans for dinner!
• Have unicorn farts for dessert (it's just cotton candy).

January 8 – Argyle Day

Wear that argyle sweater you thought you'd never need again after the Eras Tour.  Fun fact: the argyle pattern derives from the tartan of Clan Campbell in Scotland. So, you can also spend the day talking with a Scottish accent.

January 9 – Word Nerd Day

I love words. I love nerds (the people and the candy). Today is a great day to geek out on your favorite words. Take a dictionary and have your kids flip through it, finding words that are silly, funny, or just plain fun to say.

January 10 – Find a Freebie

This is my favorite day of the month. While it’s not an official holiday, it’s becoming one in my house! The holiday bills have all come in and ouch: We could all use something free. Sign up to have something free delivered to your house, find a restaurant for free meals for kids, and discover what awesome freebies you can get on your birthday. 

January 11 – Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day

This is cool! It's something fun to learn together, and also a great secret language for your family. This website makes it easy to learn the basics.

January 12 – National Marzipan Day

Make or buy some marzipan (here's an easy recipe, or you can find it at your grocery store or online); then color it and make shapes. It's basically edible, tasty play dough!

National Runner Ducky Day is a bright and fun day to celebrate! Photo by Canva

January 13 – National Rubber Ducky Day

It's a little cold for a rubber ducky race outside, but you can definitely bring your ducky in the bathtub and sing to it! (Ernie has the best Rubber Ducky song.) You can also make rubber ducky cupcakes for dessert!

January 14 – National Dress Up Your Pet Day

The name of the day says it all! If you don't have a pet, decorate a pet rock.

January 15 – National Bagel Day

This is pretty much every kid's favorite meal. Go ahead and have bagels for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner! You can even try your hand at making bagels at home.

January 16 – Appreciate a Dragon Day

Everyone loves a dragon! In honor of dragons, you can watch How to Train Your Dragon, read Dragons Love Tacos, and make some dragon crafts!

January 17 – National Kid Inventor Day

Today is Kid Inventor Day because it's the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, a kid inventor! Ask your kids about something they think is a problem and a solution they could invent to solve it! Here are some fun facts about things invented by kids:

• Benjamin Franklin invented swim flippers at age 12
• Louis Braille invented Braille writing/reading at age 15
• George Nissen invented the trampoline at age 16
• Popsicles were accidentally invented by 5-year-old Frank Epperson

Want more fun facts? We rounded up 100 surprising fun facts for kids.

January 18 – Winnie the Pooh Day

Throw a party for Pooh today! Read the classic stories, watch The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and then have a tea party with Pooh as the guest of honor. If you don't happen to have a Pooh bear stuffed animal, have your kids draw a picture of him. What's on the menu? Hunny, of course! Try these yummy honey cookies.

January 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Happy long weekend in honor of MLK Jr! Many cities have programs at museums honoring Martin Luther King Jr, or parades with a theme of unity. Check your local calendar of events to find a celebration or commemoration near you.

January 20 – National Cheese Lover’s Day

Mac and cheese, grilled cheese, cheese on pizza, cheese sticks… We’ve got several cheesy favorites you make for dinner tonight on our list of 100 Top Easy Recipes for Kids.  

January 21 – National Granola Bar Day

It's a day in honor of everyone's favorite on-the-go snack! Try this easy, wholesome, healthy, and tasty granola bar recipe together. You can customize it with your kid's favorite dried fruits, sweets, and nuts.

January 22 –  National Polka Dot Day

Wear polka dots, do polka dot art, paint polka dots on your face, or watch Minnie Mouse cartoons; she’s an icon of polka dot fashion! 

January 23 – National Pie Day

You worked up an appetite yesterday playing outside, today is a great day to make or buy a pie to enjoy! What's your favorite pie?  (Not to be confused with Pi Day on March 14!)

January 24 – National Compliment Day

Talk to your kids about how nice it feels to get a compliment, and then set yourself a challenge today: see if you can start every interaction with any person you encounter today with a compliment! The wonderful feelings you get from making people happy might turn this into a regular occurrence.

January 25 – Opposite Day

Let the kids plan this day! They probably have a million ideas of ways they can do opposites! Breakfast for dinner and burgers for breakfast? Try leaving each other notes you write backward. Act the opposite of the way you usually would...kids probably have a million creative suggestions, too.

Did you know you can do so much more with bubble wrap than just pop it? Photo by Ally Noel

January 26 – Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day 

It's like we knew this holiday was coming: we have a list of 10 hilarious, and sometimes very messy, bubble wrap games for kids.

January 27 – National Plan for Vacation Day

What a perfect holiday for the end of the coldest month! Time to plan a vacation, whether it’s a weekend away, or to dream as a family about where you want to go this summer. 

Take a look at our Mommy Poppins Family Travel Guide, which has detailed, personal reviews and itineraries of hotels, cities, and vacation spots that are perfect for families. This day always falls on the last Tuesday of January, and it makes for a great family tradition to talk about your next family vacation plan over dinner!

January 28 – National LEGO Day

If you've got one nearby, today is a great day for a trip to a Lego Discovery Center, or even Legoland! But if you're nowhere near one, get out your box of Lego pieces and get creative as a family. We've got 101 fun things to do with Legos, here.

January 29 – National Puzzle Day

What’s your favorite kind of puzzle? We’ve rounded up our favorite jigsaw puzzles, brain puzzles, and downloadable, printable, logic puzzles, all of which are perfect for kids of all ages and the whole family.

January 30 – National Croissant Day

Surprise your kids with some yummy croissants for breakfast. They won't expect it on a random Thursday!

January 31 – National Hot Chocolate Day

What a lovely way to end the month. We have tasted and asked kids, and rounded up the best hot chocolate recipes kids adore. We also have easy instructions to make fun and delicious hot chocolate bombs (these actually make great gifts for Valentine's Day in 2 weeks!).

What Makes These January Holidays Fun for Kids?

While there are a few big holidays in January, like New Year’s Day and MLK Jr Day, January can be a long, chilly, dark month. Filling each day with a silly and fun national day you can celebrate is the perfect antidote to post-holiday winter blahs. 

These mini-celebrations are easy enough for everyday, but can make each day feel special—think breakfast for dinner for National Opposite Day or a rubber ducky bathtub race at bathtime for National Rubber Ducky Day. January’s national days are delightfully low-lift, totally doable on a weeknight, and just the right mix of cozy, creative, and fun to help families kick off the new year with easy joy.

More Fun Holidays for Kids – Explore Every Month

Find more holidays each day of the year, by month:

• Fun Holidays in February for Kids

• Fun Holidays in March for Kids

• Fun Holidays in April for Kids

• Fun Holidays in May for Kids

• Fun Holidays in June for Kids

• Fun Holidays in July for Kids

• Fun Holidays in August for Kids

• Fun Holidays in September for Kids

• Fun Holidays in October for Kids

• Fun Holidays in November for Kids

• Fun Holidays in December for Kids

January Holidays for Kids FAQ

Q: What are fun January holidays for kids?
A: Fun January holidays include quirky celebrations like National LEGO Day, Rubber Ducky Day, Winnie the Pooh Day, and National Hot Chocolate Day, as well as major observances like New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Q: Is today a holiday?
A: Yes! Every day in January has a fun holiday or national day you can celebrate with kids. Check the daily list above to see today’s holiday and easy ideas for celebrating.

Q: Where do these “national days” come from?
A: Many fun holidays come from cultural traditions, awareness organizations, or popular trends. Some are officially recognized; others are just for fun—but kids love them all.

Q: How can families celebrate January holidays at home?
A: Most January holidays can be celebrated with simple, low-prep activities like crafts, themed snacks, games, or reading related books.

Q: Are there fun holidays for other months too?
A: Yes! Every month has dozens of silly and meaningful holidays. See our monthly lists and our whole Year-Round Guide to Daily Fun with Kids for more ideas.

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