The history of National Children's Health Day
Before the existence of dedicated children’s healthcare facilities, many childhood illnesses and ailments were treated at home. The idea of specialized healthcare for children (care that differed from how an adult would be treated) wasn’t widely acknowledged until the 1860s, when the first children’s hospitals were built.
In 1928, President Calvin Coolidge established National Children's Health Day. Originally observed May 1, it's now recognized annually in October.
How to celebrate National Children's Health Day
Children everywhere are relying on us to help them grow up strong and healthy. Here are a few things you can do this National Children's Health Day to promote childhood health and wellness:
- Schedule your child’s next check-up appointment
- Introduce more healthy foods into your child’s diet
- Exercise or play a sport together
- Cook a well-balanced meal together
- Play outside in the fresh air
- Teach your child how to check in with their body and recognize how they're feeling
St. Jude patient Reid with his parents
Why give to St. Jude?
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
St. Jude has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% in 1962 to 80% today. We won't stop until no child dies from cancer.
Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer. Together, we can save more lives.
St. Jude patient Samara
St. Jude gives kids with cancer the chance they deserve
When Samara was three months old, her parents noticed dots in her eyes. After undergoing several tests and being monitored by her doctors in Mexico, Samara was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a form of kidney cancer.
She underwent chemotherapy in her home country, but after a few months, she was referred to St. Jude in Memphis, Tenn., where she started treatment in February 2024. Her mother said Samara has maintained her cheerful disposition throughout her treatment. "St. Jude is family, a home," she said. "Samara really likes being here. We see it as hope, as peace."
Why become a monthly donor?
Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors.
You can make recurring gifts to St. Jude through our monthly giving program and become a Partner In Hope. Your donations will help sustain our lifesaving mission.
St. Jude patient Vietnam
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