Global Hug Your Kids Day

Global Hug Your Kids Day is observed annually on the third Monday of July.

The observance encourages parents, guardians, caregivers, and families to strengthen parent-child relationships through a simple hug while promoting family bonding, positive parenting, child welfare, child development, children's emotional well-being, children's mental health, and healthy family relationships.

Global Hug Your Kids Day was founded in 2008 by Michelle Nichols in memory of her son, Mark, to remind parents that childhood is precious and that expressing parental love, care, affection, and emotional support every day can make a lasting difference in a child's life.

The observance highlights the importance of quality family time, family values, family support, child care, child protection, children's rights, emotional security, healthy childhood development, raising happy and confident children, and creating a safe, loving, and nurturing home.

It encourages families worldwide to celebrate love, trust, kindness, compassion, and lifelong family connections, reinforcing the lasting benefits of hugging children and building stronger families.