10+ Special Days in August Not to Miss from Babies to S'Mores

Those hot summer days of August are upon us — and we're loving all the extra time with our kids! I know it feels like summer is almost gone, even though it's not, however with the the start of a new school year just around the corner, the extra time family-time is running out. Well, get those shades on because we've got an awesome lineup of holidays, special days and events to celebrate and honor that will add a splash of excitement to your sunny days! Are you ready to soak up the last bits of summer fun? Let's dive right in and discover the perfect mix of play, laughter, and learning for you and your kids.

Here are 10+ holidays and events you and your family can celebrate, honor and remember this August 2023.

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1. National Breastfeeding Month

August 1-31 | September 5-11

First off this month: Let's raise a toast to all the moms out there with their amazing breastfeeding and pumping skills! It's not easy, I know. August is National Breastfeeding Month - the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee's NBM theme, "This is Our Why," will help shine a light on why this work is so important and center the conversation on the babies and families who need our support. Let's celebrate mothers and work to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and breastmilk feeding for the 13^th annual National Breastfeeding Month!

No matter if your breastfeeding days are behind you or didn't breastfeed one thing is for certain, breastfeeding moms do better with support - support from family, friends, doctors and even the community. It always makes me smile to see a breastfeeding mom out and about. I remember those precious days long ago, but I also remember the struggles and the community of support that helped me along the way.

5 Breastfeeding Tips For Mom - From Experienced Moms

World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7, supported by UNICEF and the World Health Federation in more than 120 countries, was created with the goal to provide support for breastfeeding moms everywhere.

National Breastfeeding Month 2023 Weekly Observances:

Week 1 ~ August 1-7: World Breastfeeding Week
- Theme: Enabling Breastfeeding; Making a difference for working parents
Week 2 ~ August 8-14: Indigenous Milk Medicine Week
- Theme: From the Stars to a Sustainable Future
Week 3 ~ August 15-21: Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week
- Theme: Telling Our Own Stories. Elevating Our Voices
Week 4 ~ August 25-31: Black Breastfeeding Week
- Theme BBW 2023: We Outside! Celebrating Connection & Our Communities
Week 5 ~ September 5-11: Lactancia Latina Breastfeeding Week - New
- Theme: to be announced . . .

Local Breastfeeding Resources and Support:

Butterfly Care Center in Thousand Oaks: Classes, free online breastfeeding support Mondays 1-2 pm, Childbirth preparation, breastfeeding and newborn parenting classes and support
Breastfeeding Coalition of Ventura County
BreastfeedLA
La Leche League of Southern California / Nevada: Find local meetings and virtual or phone support
Ventura Coast Milk Bank: Donate / receive breast milk
Mother's Milk Bank

More Breastfeeding Resources and Support:

California Breastfeeding Coalition
La Leche League USA
California WIC - Women, Infants & Children
Breastfeeding and returning to work or school
Breastfeeding USA
Kelly Mom - Parenting / Breastfeeding
Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
LactMed® - NIH drugs and lactation database
e-lactancia: A Spanish-English online database maintained by APILAM, Association for Promotion of and Cultural and Scientific Research into Breastfeeding. It is maintained by both medical doctors and pharmacists
Infant Risk Center 1(806) 352-2519: A world-wide call center open from 8am - 3 pm CST to help evaluate the risk to the infant from exposure to multiple drugs, and keep the mom breastfeeding.

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2. National Night Out

August 1

National Night Out is August 1, 2023 - observed annually on the first Tuesday of August since 1984, to promote neighborhood camaraderie and police-community partnerships. Get ready to party with your neighbors and have a blast building a stronger, friendlier community.

3. National Purple Heart Day

August 7

Purple Heart Day on August 7 was created as a day for us to give back. It’s a day for Americans all over the country to remember and honor the men and women who bravely served their country and were either wounded, killed or taken as a prisoner of war "POW" while serving their country. These men and women are decorated with a Purple Heart - this day is for remembering them and their sacrifice. Lets not only honor those that have been given a Purple Heart, but lets also teach our children that there is a cost to freedom and we should not only remember, but honor their sacrifice.

Learn more about the Purple Heart:

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4. National S'mores Day

August 10

Want s’more? You can celebrate with the ooey-gooey deliciousness of s'mores galore s'more on August 10^th, or any-day for that matter. . . I can almost taste the chocolaty, melty marshmallow and crunchy graham crackers all smooshed together, mmm. I still remember my first s'more, it was on a Girl Scout camping trip and I though they were the most amazing invention ever. For years I thought they were exclusively a Girl Scout thing, but now they are everywhere even in fancy restaurants. Turns out s'mores are the main reason my son wanted to be a Cub Scout and go camping. We even had a virtual campout and made them at home on the stove - where there's a will . . . there's a way! We’ve got more than a dozen takes on this ooey, gooey, delicious summertime treat for you.

Learn more: History of the S’more

Make s'mores with your kids:

5. International Left Handers Day

August 13

If you're a lefty this is your day to celebrate. I'm going to give a shout out to all the lefties I know, and there are many! As a right handed person I often don't realize the extra challenges those who are left handed face, can you say "scissors" or ink smears?

Read more:

6. National Navajo Code Talkers Day

August 14

Navajo Code Talkers Day recognizes the contributions of Navajo marines during World War II. Navajo marines encoded and transmitted messages using a complex Navajo language-based code during a time when secret communication was essential to win a war. Navajo was a near ‘perfect’ language that was used to create military codes. This is why it has been recorded in history and is recognized for its brilliance even today. However, the code wasn’t the language itself but was a communication form that was encrypted using the Navajo language. Since many people couldn’t decipher it, the code remained unbreakable throughout the war. It is this success of the code that is celebrated by Americans every year.

The U.S. government recruited over 400 Navajo men to serve during the war. The Navajo Code Talkers successfully transmitted more than 800 messages without error and helped the U.S. win the war. In 1982, Navajo Code Talkers Day was established through a presidential proclamation by President Ronald Reagan In 2014, Arizona passed legislation declaring every August 14 Navajo Code Talkers Day in Arizona.

🎦 There was a great movie about the Navajo Code Talkers: Windtalkers, 2002 - Rated R. It might not be appropriate for kids, it talks place during WWII.

On this day, celebrate the great American heroes and their service to the nation!

Learn more about the Navajo Code Talkers:

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7. Pluto Demoted Day

August 24

This day commemorates August 24, 2006 when it was announced that poor Pluto had been demoted - Pluto's status was downgraded from a full sized planet to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union. Sorry, but no matter I will always think of Pluto as a full planet, demotion or not - go Pluto!

Pluto, you'll always be in our hearts! Explore space together and check out the jaw-dropping pics from the James Webb Space Telescope. Space-tastic!

Learn more about Pluto:

Got kids interested in space?

What a perfect time to pique your kids' interest in space with the James Webb Space Telescope sending back unbelievable pictures.

Follow the telescope and its latest images on NASA's site.

Local places to go with your kids to learn more about planets:

Griffith Observatory - Los Angeles
California Science center - Los Angeles
Star Parties with Ventura County Astronomical Society - events open to the community

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8. Rainbow Baby Day

August 22

A rainbow baby is the child that comes after a loss from miscarriage, infant loss, stillbirth, or neonatal death. This is a day to remember and honor those little ones that are no longer with us while celebrating the ones that came after . . . like a rainbow after the storm.

Some families consider them ‘miracle’ babies due to the powerful impact they can have on helping parents heal after a loss. However, rainbow pregnancies can also be emotionally complex and involve feelings of grief and guilt along with relief and excitement. You might be surprised at just how many rainbow babies there are. Many women who suffer a loss, especially an early loss don't often share what they are going through, even with their closes friends and family, often they mourn quietly with their partner.

My heart goes out to anyone suffering or who has suffered a loss, sadly I've been there too. Both of my boys are rainbow babies and I'm so grateful for them - they are my miracle rainbow gifts.

More Information about pregnancy loss and support:

Local Pregnancy & Infant loss support list
Loss & Grief in pregnancy & postpartum - helpful resources
Tommy's Baby loss information and support - this is a UK site, but still has a lot of helpful information
From the Birth Injury Center: Information on Intrauterine Fetal Demise also known as Stillbirth

9. Women's Equality Day

August 26

Women’s Equality Day marks the passage of the 19^th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. While we still have work to do, we've come a long way towards achieving equity. When election time comes think back to all those who fought before us and exercise your right to get out the vote!

A day to celebrate the fierce women who shaped history! Let's cheer for progress and remind our children that they can achieve anything.

This day also celebrates the birthday of Susan B. Anthony - did you know that the 19^th Amendment was known as the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment” to honor her work on behalf of women’s rights, and on July 2, 1979, she became the first woman to be featured on a circulating coin from the U.S. mint? Most think about her work for the women’s suffrage movement, but before that she was an abolitionist and active in the temperance movement. This is a day to honor her and all she accomplished.

10. Anniversary of 'I Have a Dream' Speech

August 28

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream” speech in front of a crowd of some 250,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, at the March on Washington in D.C., on August 28, 1963. Today, with your kids, read about the speech and talk about King's message, it remains one of the most famous speeches in history. How far have we come? What more we can do? What are things they can do today?

Learn more about MLK:

Just few more August Holidays:

August 20: International Geocaching Day

Geocaching: A Treasure Hunt in Your Neighborhood

August 26: International Dog Day:

August is National Peach Month:

Updated July 29, 2023

💙 Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas covers the towns of: Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Thousand Oak, Newbury Park and Malibu. I will also include worthwhile information, events and activities, classes, fundraisers and other happening in the nearby communities of Simi Valley, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, San Fernando Valley, greater Los Angeles and Southern California.

If you are a local business and are interested in sponsoring articles like this or working together please reach out to brennag@macaronikid.com

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1. National Breastfeeding Month

Local Breastfeeding Resources and Support:

2. National Night Out

3. National Purple Heart Day

4. National S'mores Day

5. International Left Handers Day

6. National Navajo Code Talkers Day

7. Pluto Demoted Day

8. Rainbow Baby Day

9. Women's Equality Day

10. Anniversary of 'I Have a Dream' Speech

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