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Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® takes a special place in our calendars as a day dedicated to uplifting the spirits of young people. This unique celebration, which takes place every third Thursday in March, encourages adults to express their admiration and support for the kids in their lives.

Children Education Life & Living62

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Drive family-focused purchases and experiences by positioning products and services as tools for parents to celebrate and affirm their children's worth on Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®.

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DIY craft kits and art supplies for 'Love Bomb' heart-decorating activities
Family-friendly cooking classes, meal kits, or specialty ingredients for culinary adventures together
Movie night bundles: streaming subscriptions, popcorn makers, or cozy blanket/pillow sets
Breakfast celebration packages: pancake mixes, specialty syrups, or kitchen gadgets for kids

History

Founded in 1997 by Camp Fire, this day has since been a beacon of encouragement and hope. It aims to boost young individuals’ self-esteem and reinforce the positive impact of adult affirmation in their lives.

The idea behind Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® is rooted in the powerful impact that words of encouragement and love can have on a child’s life. Recognizing a child’s worth and potential not only brightens their day but also contributes to their long-term development.

This initiative underscores the significance of acknowledging the incredible qualities of young individuals. It’s a reminder for adults to pause and express the importance of the children and teens in their lives, reinforcing the critical role positive reinforcement plays in youth development.

The trademark of Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® symbolizes Camp Fire and its partners’ commitment to a national movement of positivity and encouragement toward youth. It’s an invitation extended to everyone, regardless of whether they have children of their own, to participate in a collective effort to inspire and uplift the next generation.

This day has achieved remarkable reach, impacting millions over the years. It continues to grow as more individuals and organizations join the cause.

By becoming a part of this celebration, you contribute to a nationwide wave of kindness, ensuring every child receives a message of love, support, and acknowledgment of their incredible selves.

This day, marked every third Thursday in March, was created to encourage adults everywhere to communicate their love, encouragement, and support to the children in their lives. It’s a reminder to adults to pause and express how important and incredible kids are.

Camp Fire, a national youth development organization, launched this day to strengthen the essential bond between adults and children through positive reinforcement and communication. The idea is that something as simple as a letter can carry significant emotional value for a child, providing encouragement and a tangible token of love that they can hold onto for years.

This initiative has not only continued but grown, inspiring adults to use various mediums—from handwritten letters to digital messages—to express their admiration and support for young people. Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® serves as a call to action for adults to make an effort, however small, to ensure every child feels valued, seen, and supported.

This tradition underscores the power of words and the impact they can have on a child’s self-esteem, decisions, and overall success.

Camp Fire promotes this day with the hope of inspiring leadership and self-discovery in young people, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and celebrating their unique qualities and potential.

How to celebrate

Craft a Love Bomb

Nothing says, “You’re amazing!” like a room filled with heart-shaped notes. Dive into a treasure trove of craft supplies and decorate each heart with reasons why your kid rocks. Sneak them into lunch boxes or backpacks or plaster their doors; it’s all fair in love and war.

Jam Out to Their Tunes

Is your living room the next big concert venue? Yes, it is! Crank up your child’s favorite tunes and let loose. Whether it’s the soundtrack to their favorite movie or a playlist of top hits, nothing beats a family dance-off.

Culinary Adventures

Who’s the best chef in town? Your kid, of course! Whip up their favorite meal together or explore new recipes. If they’re curious about cooking, there are fun, kid-friendly cooking classes online that turn kitchen time into an adventure.

Movie Marathon, Anyone?

Pick out your kiddo’s top movie picks – animated, superhero, or fantasy – and settle in for a cozy movie marathon. Extra points for homemade popcorn and a fort made of blankets and pillows.

Breakfast Extravaganza

Kickstart the day with a breakfast fit for a champion. Pancakes, eggs, or their favorite cereal – make it together and make it special. A fantastic breakfast sets the tone for a day of celebration.

Creative Craft Time

Unleash your inner artist and tackle a new craft project. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time together and let your child’s creativity soar. Whether it’s painting, sculpting, or a DIY kit, the world is your canvas.

A Picnic Adventure

Pack a basket, grab a blanket, and head to the nearest park for a picnic. Fresh air, a bit of sunshine, and delicious snacks make for perfect moments of bonding and fun.

Storytime Extravaganza

Cuddle up with a stack of books and dive into storytime. Choose their favorites or explore new stories together. It’s a magical way to travel the world without leaving your cozy nook. Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® Timeline1897Camp Fire was founded as a girls’ outdoor and leadership organizationLuther and Charlotte Gulick launched what became Camp Fire in Maine to promote character, outdoor skills, and adult mentorship for young people. 1943Abraham Maslow introduced the hierarchy of needsMaslow’s paper on human motivation highlighted love, belonging, and esteem as central needs, shaping later ideas about nurturing children’s self-worth. [1]1953F. Skinner publishes “Science and Human Behavior.”Skinner’s work on operant conditioning established positive reinforcement as a powerful way to shape behavior, influencing parenting and education strategies. [1]1961Albert Bandura formalizes social learning theoryBandura’s research showed that children learn by observing and imitating others, underscoring how adult words and modeled encouragement affect kids’ development. [1]1977Search Institute begins research that leads to developmental assetsThe organization’s long-term studies evolved into the “40 Developmental Assets,” emphasizing support, empowerment, and positive adult communication with youth. 1989The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adoptedThe treaty recognized children’s rights to protection, development, and respect for their dignity, reinforcing the importance of listening to and valuing young people. [1]1990sStrengths-based youth development gains ground in the United StatesYouth-serving groups such as Camp Fire adopted asset-focused approaches that stress encouragement, recognition, and supportive adult relationships over deficit models. [1]

Camp Fire was founded as a girls’ outdoor and leadership organization

Luther and Charlotte Gulick launched what became Camp Fire in Maine to promote character, outdoor skills, and adult mentorship for young people.

Abraham Maslow introduced the hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s paper on human motivation highlighted love, belonging, and esteem as central needs, shaping later ideas about nurturing children’s self-worth. [1]

F. Skinner publishes “Science and Human Behavior.”

Skinner’s work on operant conditioning established positive reinforcement as a powerful way to shape behavior, influencing parenting and education strategies. [1]

Albert Bandura formalizes social learning theory

Bandura’s research showed that children learn by observing and imitating others, underscoring how adult words and modeled encouragement affect kids’ development. [1]

Search Institute begins research that leads to developmental assets

The organization’s long-term studies evolved into the “40 Developmental Assets,” emphasizing support, empowerment, and positive adult communication with youth.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted

The treaty recognized children’s rights to protection, development, and respect for their dignity, reinforcing the importance of listening to and valuing young people. [1]

Strengths-based youth development gains ground in the United States

Youth-serving groups such as Camp Fire adopted asset-focused approaches that stress encouragement, recognition, and supportive adult relationships over deficit models. [1]

FAQ

How does specific, sincere praise affect a child’s confidence over time?

Research in developmental psychology shows that children who receive specific, sincere praise about their effort, strategies, and improvement tend to develop higher self‑efficacy and resilience than those who receive only general or ability‑focused praise. Studies have found that children praised for effort are more likely to choose challenging tasks and persist after setbacks, while children who are told they are “smart” can become more anxious about failure and may avoid difficult work to protect that label. Over time, consistent, authentic encouragement that highlights concrete behaviors supports a growth mindset and healthier self‑esteem.

What is the difference between healthy encouragement and overpraising a child?

Healthy encouragement focuses on truthful, concrete observations about what a child did, learned, or how they treated others, while overpraising involves frequent, exaggerated, or non‑specific compliments that a child quickly recognizes as insincere. Pediatric and psychology guidance suggests that when praise is constant, inflated, or unrelated to real effort, children may become dependent on external approval or feel pressure to live up to unrealistic labels. In contrast, balanced encouragement that also allows room for mistakes helps children build internal motivation and a realistic sense of their strengths.

Is it better to praise a child’s effort or their natural talent?

Multiple studies indicate that praising effort and strategies is more beneficial than praising natural talent alone. When adults emphasize hard work, persistence, planning, and trying new approaches, children are more likely to believe that abilities can grow and that setbacks are part of learning. Praise that focuses mainly on innate talent, such as calling a child “a natural,” can unintentionally signal that ability is fixed, which may reduce perseverance when tasks become difficult. Expert organizations often recommend pairing recognition of ability with comments about what the child did to develop or apply that ability.

Can written notes or letters of encouragement really make a difference for kids and teens?

Letters of encouragement can serve as a lasting reminder of support, especially for children who may reread them during stressful times. While most research examines overall parent–child communication rather than letters alone, child development experts note that written messages allow adults to be thoughtful and specific, and they give young people something tangible that can be revisited when they feel uncertain. In the context of strong, caring relationships, these written affirmations can reinforce a sense of being valued and remembered.

How do different cultures view praising children?

Cultural norms strongly influence how and how often adults praise children. In many Western contexts, open verbal praise for individual qualities and achievements is common and often encouraged as a way to build self-esteem. In contrast, research on East Asian and some other collectivist cultures finds that adults may use praise more sparingly, emphasize humility, and focus on effort or group contribution rather than individual brilliance. Despite these differences in style, studies suggest that in most cultures, children benefit when praise is aligned with local values, is sincere, and highlights meaningful effort or prosocial behavior.

Can too much praise harm a child’s motivation or self‑esteem?

Evidence suggests that certain types of excessive or inflated praise can have unintended negative effects. For example, overly strong praise given to children with low self‑esteem has been linked to greater fear of failure and avoidance of challenges, because children worry about not living up to the high standard. Constant praise for easy tasks can also make achievements feel meaningless, or teach children to work mainly for approval instead of personal satisfaction. Experts recommend moderate, accurate praise that focuses on genuine effort and progress to support healthy motivation.

How can adults encourage children who are struggling or not achieving highly without sounding fake?

Experts advise starting by noticing and naming real, small positives rather than forcing big compliments. Adults can acknowledge the difficulty a child is facing, then focus on specific behaviors such as showing up, trying again, asking for help, or practicing a new strategy. Using questions like “What part of this went a little better than last time?” helps children see their own progress. Avoiding comparisons with other children and sticking to concrete observations makes encouragement feel genuine, even when outcomes are not yet where the child or adult wants them to be.