Something fun is happening at the end of the month—Leap Day! Why is it interesting? Because every four years, a whole extra day, February 29th, magically appears on our calendars, giving us 366 days of the year instead of 365. Why not make the most your extra day by doing something awesome? There are so many possibilities!
What will you do on Leap Day?
How cool is this?
- Leap year exists because our calendar doesn’t line up exactly with the solar calendar, or the time it takes the earth to orbit the sun. To make up for this slight difference, we add an extra day to the calendar every four years.
- The Egyptians first started leap year, and the Romans later picked February 29th as the 366th day.
- Babies born on February 29th are called sometimes called leaplings or leapers, and they usually celebrate their birthdays on February 28th or March 1st during “common years,” or years without a leap day.
- Technically, leap years happen mostly every four years, but every 100 years we skip a year unless the year is divisible by 400. Confused yet? Don’t worry, just go with the flow and check out the following ways to have a blast this leap year.
Do you know anyone born on February 29th?
Write a Leap-Day Time Capsule Letter.
Write a letter to your next Leap-Day self, seal it, and open it in four years. It’s amazing how much you can change and grow in that time! Here are some things to include in the letter:
- Where you live
- Your age
- Your best friend
- Your favorite book, movie and food
- Your favorite thing you like to do
- Complete this sentence: I love…
- What you want to be when you grow up
- Four things you hope to do in the next four years
Don't open your time capsule letter until the next leap year!
Make an origami frog.
Frogs are associated with Leap Day (for obvious reasons). Make a cute origami frog! You can find directions on websites like Pinterest.com or through a quick Google search.
Learn how to make an origami jumping frog
Make origami frogs at a Leap Day party.
Make a collage or memory box to honor the year.
Gather all your memories so far this year in a box or on a poster board, whether they be photos or objects. Leave room at the bottom of the paper to add more throughout the year. When the year is over, put your collage or box away. Get it back out in four years and look back on your awesome memories. Need inspiration? Take action-selfies of yourself leaping in front of different backgrounds, such as cool places throughout your town.
Bake a birthday treat for someone born on Feb 29th.
Are you lucky enough to know a leapling? They have an extra-special reason to celebrate this year—Do it with them!
Do you know a leapling? Make him a birthday treat.
Create a Leap Day playlist.
Some songs you might want to include: Jump! by The Movement; Jump On It! by the Sugar Hill Gang; Jump by FloRida; Jump Right In by the Zac Brown Band; Leap of Faith by Bruce Springsteen; Jump by Van Halen; Jump, Jive An’ Wail by the Brian Setzer Orchestra; Jump Around by House of Pain; Jump (For My Love) by the Pointer Sisters.
A Leap Day playlist will get you in the spirit.
Call or get together with someone you’ve lost touch with.
Do you mean to catch up with someone special, but time always gets away from you? Well, you have a whole extra day! What a better time?
Who can you catch up with on Leap Day?
Stargaze.
Leap Day isn’t a national holiday, but it’s an astrological one. It’s a perfect time to go outside into the night sky and gaze at the wonderous stars? Find some constellations and make a wish for the next four years. Or, go to a planetarium!
To make up for the slight difference between our calendar and the solar calendar, we add an extra day every four years.
Jump It Out.
Get on a trampoline or go to a trampoline park or bouncy house center and leap your heart out.
Leap it out at the trampoline park.
Make Pond Punch.
Treat yourself and get your creative “juices” flowing by creating this tasty green punch: Mix ginger ale or clear soda, lemonade and lime sherbet together to taste. Stir and enjoy!
Make like a frog and drink pond punch!
Throw a Leap Day party.
It’s a perfect excuse to get together with your friends! Invite them over for a party or sleepover. Do a frog theme using some of the ideas above. Need more inspiration? Check out Pinterest!
Try something new.
Take a leap of faith and try an activity you’ve never done before. Take a small risk. For example, sign up for new club, go out of your way to talk to someone you want to get to know better, or try out for a chorus solo or a part in the school play.
Make a leap of faith by making a new friend.
Share With Kidzworld
What do you think of leap year? Do you know any leaplings? Kidzworld would love to know!
