📝 8 August Holidays to Celebrate with Your Preschooler
Looking to make the most of August with your little learners? These fun and quirky holidays are the perfect excuse to sneak in some seasonal hands-on learning. From fruity sensory play to pet-themed crafts, here are eight engaging ways to celebrate August with your preschooler—plus simple activity ideas, book pairings, and free printables you can grab today!
🍉 August 3 – Watermelon Day
Celebrate summer with a juicy sensory adventure!
This refreshing theme is perfect for hands-on play and learning with a fruity twist.
🎨 Activity:
Make a watermelon sensory bin with red rice, black chickpeas (as seeds), and green pasta. Add scoops, cups, and pretend play tools for hours of open-ended fun.
📚 Book Suggestion:
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli – a silly, bright story kids love!
🖨️ Watermelon Sensory Bin Activities - Recipe Cards, Letters, and Counting
Coming Soon:[Grab watermelon-themed printables in my Etsy Shop →]
🦉 August 4 – Owl Awareness Day
Whooo's ready for some feathered fun?
Owls make a perfect theme for learning about nocturnal animals and practicing listening skills.
🎨 Activity:
Try an owl craft using paper shapes or felt—great for fine motor skills and creativity.
📚 Book Suggestion:
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell – a sweet story that helps with separation anxiety too!
🦉 Fun Owl Facts for Kids
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Owls stay up at night!
Owls are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day and are awake at night.
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Owls can turn their heads really far!
They can't move their eyes, so they turn their heads to see—almost all the way around!
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Owls have big, round eyes.
Their eyes help them see in the dark, like built-in flashlights!
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Owls don’t hoot the same way.
Some owls say “hoo hoo,” but others chirp, screech, or whistle!
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Owls are silent fliers.
Their special feathers help them fly without making a sound—like a ninja bird!
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Baby owls are called owlets.
They hatch from eggs and are fluffy and white when they’re little.
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Owls live in trees or holes.
Some nest in tree trunks, barns, or even cactus plants!
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Owls eat with their feet!
They grab their food (like mice or bugs) with their sharp talons before eating.
🖨️ Freebie:
Owl Craft
🐱 August 8 – International Cat Day
It’s the purr-fect day to play and learn!
Cat-themed learning invites imagination and dramatic play.
🎨 Activity:
Make a paper plate cat mask or practice counting with paw print manipulatives.
📚 Book Suggestion:
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin – a classroom classic.
🛒 I found this cute freebie:
Cat Mask Fun Freebie
📚 August 9 – Book Lovers Day
Raise a reader, one page at a time!
This is a great day to celebrate storytime routines and favorite read-alouds.
🎨 Activity:
Set up a cozy reading nook and let your preschooler choose their own mini book stack.
📚 Book Suggestion:
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. – a rhythmic alphabet favorite!
🖨️ Bonus:
[Find our “Top 10 Alphabet Books” list + ABC printables on the blog →]
Chicka Boom Bingo Initial Sounds
Chicka Boom Bingo Letter Recognition
🥓 August 20 – Bacon Day
Silly, savory fun for food lovers!
Turn this quirky day into a pretend kitchen play theme.
🎨 Activity:
Set up a dramatic play “breakfast café” with toy bacon, menus, and order pads.
📚 Book Suggestion:
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin – not bacon exactly, but still snack-inspired fun!
🛒 Resource:
Coming Soon:[Download our printable breakfast play menu and order sheets →]
🍌 August 25 – Banana Split Day
Cool off with a sweet pretend treat!
This theme is perfect for sorting, sequencing, and fine motor practice.
🎨 Activity:
Use felt or paper toppings to let your child “build” their own banana split again and again!
📚 Book Suggestion:
Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems – a funny take on sweet decisions.
🖨️ Freebie:
Coming Soon:[Get our Banana Split activity mat + printable toppings set →]
🐶 August 26 – International Dog Day
Let’s celebrate our furry friends!
Dog themes are always a hit with preschoolers and offer lots of playful possibilities.
🎨 Activity:
Sort bones by color or size, play fetch with number cards, or make a paper dog craft.
📚 Book Suggestion:
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer – a hilarious favorite that encourages animal sounds and participation.
🛒 Freebie:
[Check out our Dog-Themed Counting and Color Sorting Set →]
🤝 August 30 – International Day of Friendship
Friendship is a skill—and it can be taught!
This is a great time to focus on social-emotional learning.
🎨 Activity:
Use an Emotion Faces chart to talk about how friends feel, or make friendship bracelets together.
📚 Book Suggestion:
How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen – a great way to model positive behavior.
🖨️ The Color Monster, a book about emotions:
[Download our book companion The Color Monster, a book about emotions →]
✨ Wrap-Up: Celebrate August with Learning + Love
Preschoolers learn best when they're having fun—and themed days like these are the perfect way to bring more joy into your routine. Whether you're a parent, homeschooler, or teacher, pick one or two of these August holidays to try this week and watch your child’s eyes light up with discovery!
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