World Children’s Day falls on November 20, and it is a good excuse to talk with young children about their rights. I’m a kindergarten teacher, and I’ve found that even four-year-olds have plenty to say once you ask the right question. These free World Children’s Day activities give you six printable pages to get that talk going: two coloring pages, a need or want sheet, a tracing page, a counting page and a set of bookmarks.
Here’s the honest bit. These six are a free sample of a bigger 20-page pack. They’re complete pages, though, and enough for a few calm mornings. Each one is its own PDF, black and white, so any printer does the job.
Free World Children’s Day Activities and Coloring Pages to Print
Press the Download PDF button under each preview.
1. World Children’s Day Coloring Page
Five children hold hands in front of a big globe with stars and hearts, ready for crayons.
2. Every Child Has the Right To Poster
Six boxes show learning, playing, eating well, a safe home, a doctor and being loved, each one to color and talk about.
3. Need or Want Worksheet
Eight pictures, from a bed to a teddy bear, and children circle the word need or want under each.
4. Hello Around the World Tracing Page
Trace hello in English, Spanish, French, Swahili, Hindi and Chinese, then color the six children.
5. Count and Write Worksheet
Count balloons, stars, kites, hearts, books and soccer balls, then write each number in the box.
6. Bookmarks to Color
Four dotted-line bookmarks to color, cut out and share, such as Be Kind Everywhere.
These six pages are a free sample of the full pack. See what else is in the full 20-page set.
How I Use These Pages With Children
I start with the globe coloring page and one simple question: who lives on this planet? Children say “me!” and then “my grandma!” and then “dogs!” Let them color while they chat. Don’t rush to explain the day. Just say, “Today is a special day for children everywhere.” That’s plenty for a four-year-old.
Next comes the rights poster. Point to one box, say “Every child has the right to learn,” and ask, “What do you learn at school?” Do one box at a time. A child who colors the doctor box will often tell you about her last visit. That’s the lesson working. Children learn that being safe, fed and loved isn’t a favor. It belongs to every child.
The need or want sheet is my favorite for kindergarten. Read each picture aloud first. A bed? Everybody needs sleep, so circle need. A teddy bear? Lovely, but we can live without one, so that’s a want. Some children will argue about the kite, and I let them. The argument is the thinking. These pages work just as well for any rights and responsibilities lesson, or a needs and wants unit, at any time of year.
Hello Around the World is gentle practice for early writers. Children trace each greeting and say it out loud. Ask your group whether anyone knows another way to say hello at home. You may be surprised. The count and write page is quiet independent work, handy after a group chat. Hand out the bookmarks last. Children color them, cut on the dotted lines and give one to a friend or a grown-up, which is a tiny act of kindness all by itself.
Get the Full 20-Page World Children’s Day Pack
If your group enjoyed these, the complete set has 20 pages with answer keys. You can find it on Teachers Pay Teachers: World Children’s Day Activities and Worksheets Pack. Beyond the six free pages here, the pack adds:
- A cut and paste Rights and Responsibilities sort
- A cut and paste Needs and Wants sort
- A Match the Rights page
- A crown to color and wear, and an award certificate
- An All About Me page and writing prompts
- A word search, a trace and write page and a maze
- I Can Help and My Promise pages
- Seven answer keys for the activity pages
Frequently Asked Questions
When is World Children’s Day?
It’s on November 20 every year. The day is about children’s rights, so it suits talks about learning, play, safety and being cared for.
What age are these activities for?
They suit ages 4 to 7. Preschoolers can color and talk, while kindergarteners can trace, count and write.
Can I use these pages outside World Children’s Day?
Yes. The rights poster and the need or want sheet fit any lesson on rights and responsibilities, or needs and wants, all year long.
Where can I get all 20 pages?
The full 20-page pack, with answer keys, is available on Teachers Pay Teachers. Use the link in the pack section above.
Can I print extra copies of the free pages?
Yes, as many as your class or home group needs, with no sign-up.
- World Children’s Day: the story behind the day.
- 25 Children’s Day activities for kindergarten: more ideas for the classroom.
- 21 Children’s Day ideas for preschool: simple plans for little ones.
- Printable Children’s Day activities for preschoolers: more pages to print.
- Free printable classroom rules with pictures: talk about how we treat each other.
- All about me preschool activities: let each child share what makes them special.
- School readiness worksheets: more printables for kindergarten.
Print a page, gather a few children and ask them what every child needs. These free World Children’s Day activities take it from there, one picture at a time.
