By Daily Press staff
Kids now have their own day. Boys and Girls Clubs of the greater Los Angeles area have joined a national effort to establish national KidsDay as an “official day” on the nation’s calendar.
In Los Angeles, National KidsDay will be celebrated on Sunday, Aug. 7— with thousands of parents and kids participating in an event at the Santa Monica Pier with food, games and rides. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The effort is backed by research showing that millions of Americans recognize the link between spending meaningful time with their kids and the tough issues facing youth, but say they don’t have the time, skills or resources to do as much for their children as they feel they should, officials say.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America and KidsPeace launched National KidsDay nationally in 2001 to foster stronger relationships between adults and children by educating them on the importance and value of spending such meaningful time together. According to research, families experience the pressures of contemporary life, regardless of their economic status, ethnicity, cultural background or location. Those pressures directly affect the amount of positive, quality time they are able to devote to their children, officials say.
Thousands of parents and kids will gather at the Santa Monica Pier for a full day of family activities that celebrate the holiday. Nationwide, more than 500,000 kids and their families are expected to participate in more than 1,300 events. Roll up your sleeves, girls
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 6, 2005. Read the original PDF.