How to Celebrate National Only Child Day: Fun Ideas for Your Family

Only Child Day: 12th April

There seems to be a special day for everything nowadays—Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Single Parents’ Day, Siblings’ Day, and now, National Only Child Day! And why not? It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the unique bond between parents and their only child. Whether you’re raising an only child or are one yourself, this day is all about recognition, appreciation, and making memories.

Celebrate Only Child Day by Reading a Book

Books are a wonderful way to help children see themselves reflected in stories and understand that being an only child is special in its own right. If your child sometimes feels like they’re missing out by not having siblings, introduce them to books featuring only-child characters who go on amazing adventures or learn valuable lessons.

Here are some books we recommend that feature an only child:

The Only Child Club by Anne Fine

Alas, this book is out of print now, but you can still purchase a 2nd hand copy from Amazon or borrow it from your local library. It is quite a fun book as it is about ‘only’ children wanting to do stuff that they cannot do without brothers or sisters, such as having pointless arguments. It will make you feel grateful that you are an only child.

Holes by Louis Sachar

This is a great adventure story for boys. Stanley Yelnats is sent to a youth detention camp where he is forced to constantly dig holes with other inmates to ‘build character’. But is there a secret reason why the draconian warden wants the boys to dig so many holes? Stanley needs to investigate further.

The Little Princess by F.H. Burnett

Sara Crewe moves into a posh girls’ boarding school. She is very privileged, but still shows a wonderful attitude of generosity and humility, especially as she hits on hard times. Whether you are an only child from a privileged background or you are from a low-income family, you can learn a lot from Sara’s positive, resourceful attitude.

Llama Llama by Anna Dewdney

These are gorgeously illustrated books about an only llama child. They cover a plethora of issues that small children face, such as trying to get to sleep, losing their first tooth or going to school for the first time. Despite being a llama and not a human child, these books are still very relatable for ‘only’ children.

Danny the Champion of the World by Ronald Dahl

This is a great book for ‘only’ boys. Danny and his father work together to thwart and horrible snobby rich man who makes everyone’s lives a misery. It is written with Ronald Dahl’s usual sharp sense of humour. In fact, Ronald Dahl wrote quite a few books featuring ‘only’ children. For more on his works, check out our post Top 10 Ronald Dahl Books.

Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr

If you want your only child to grow up with an adventurous and independent spirit then Nim’s Island is a must-read. Nim is truly inspirational. She can show she is perfectly capable of looking after herself and other animals on the island whilst her father is missing. I encourage every girl aged 8+ to read this and find inspiration.

Celebrate Only Child Day by watching a Film

There are many great family films out there that feature an only child. Often we watch films where the main character has siblings and a good moral to the story is to show children how to get along with their brothers and sisters. But what do ‘only’ children need to learn from the movies? Here are a few suggestions for good family films that feature an only child.

Tangled

There are many Disney Films that feature an only child. I won’t mention them all in this little film review. However, I will give a special mention to Rapunzel. Not only is Rapunzel an only child, but she is also being raised by a deceptive, toxic, fake mother. Considering she was raised alone in a tower with only a chameleon and an evil abusive woman as company, I think Rapunzel turned out well.

How to Train Your Dragon

Hiccup is the only child of a Viking chieftain. Compared to other Vikings he does not seem to fit in well with the community as he is not tough enough. But Hiccup develops a wonderful friendship with a dragon and completely turns the community’s perception of the mighty winged beasts. This is a great story for only children who do not feel they fit in their own community.

Pete’s Dragon

Many films that feature an only child make sure the child is an orphan too, just to make the story extra heart-wrenching. Pete’s Dragon is no different. Disney has two versions of this story and both films are very different from each other. The main similarity is that Pete has only been able to survive because of his dragon friend, Elliott, whom no one else can see but Pete. This wonderful film could easily inspire your child to develop an imaginary friend, which is awesome.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

I guess I had better mention the ultimate only child out there: the boy who lived, Harry Potter. Sure, he grew up with his cousin but considering they were not close and his aunt and uncle treated him like an outsider, I think it is safe to say that Harry Potter is a typical ‘only child orphan’ that nobody wanted. Plus, there is Hermione, who seemed quite content to be an only child, and Ron, who had a massive middle child complex, so all in all I think J.K Rowling is on team ‘only’ child.

Finding Nemo

This is a wonderful film about an overprotective father and his only son. Nemo was supposed to have had lots of brothers and sisters, but tragedy struck and he is the only child left, which explains his overprotective father. This is especially true as Nemo has a slightly damaged fin, so it seems as if he is disabled. But I think parents and children can take heart when they watch this film as the father will never stop looking for his only son no matter what the odds are.

Mulan (animated version)

Mulan is the only daughter in the Fa family. Because only men are called to go to war Mulan dresses as a man to go in her father’s place. She risks her life and her honour to protect her father. Mulan is a quick-thinking creative individual who is full of moral courage. I think she is a great role model for any girl.

Inside Out

Here is another great Disney/Pixar film. What better way to show your child how to manage their emotions than plonking them in front of the TV and showing them what their thoughts and feelings look like in their brains? Pretty mind-blowing, right? Riley is an only child and has had to move hundreds of miles with her parents to a new city. She has to leave all her friends behind and you can really sense her loneliness and fear in this film. I think both parents and children can learn a lot as they watch this.

Celebrate Only Child Day by doing activities as a family

One of the great things about having only one child is you can devote all your attention to that child. The problem is that you also have lots of grown-up things to do all the time, and it can be easy to neglect your child for a while. Sure, it is important for your child to learn to play independently, but on Only Child Day, you should dedicate some time to doing activities with your one and only. Perhaps you can go swimming together, or play video games together. Maybe you can have a ‘yes day’ or build a den as a family? Whatever you do, be sure to take lots of photos and videos and treasure them forever. Your child is only young once.

For ideas of other activities to do check out our post on Things to do in the May Half Term. You don’t have to wait that long to take part in these activities, you can do them today.

Celebrate Only Child Day with your friends

Just because your child doesn’t have siblings doesn’t mean they can’t have a “family” of friends! If you know other only-child families, why not bring them together for a mini celebration?

👯 Host a Playdate – Plan a fun afternoon with games, a scavenger hunt, or an Only Child Day party.

🌍 Travel the World from Home – Pick a country and explore its culture, food, and traditions. Play the Magic Carpet Game, where your child “flies” to a new destination and learns about it through crafts, music, or storytelling.

🎲 Game Night – Board games and video games are a great way to bond and have fun together.

Celebrate Only Child Day by Making Future Plans

One of the perks of being a smaller family is that planning trips and experiences can be easier. Take this opportunity to discuss and dream together as a family:

🛫 Plan a Future Trip – Ask your child where they would love to visit and start brainstorming ideas for a family vacation.

🎯 Set Goals Together – Whether it’s learning a new skill, picking up a new hobby, or joining a club, set a family goal to work toward together.

📅 Create a Family Bucket List – Write down fun experiences you all want to try and tick them off as you go!

Join The Only Child Club

We created The Only Child Club to bring together families like yours—so why not join our community?

✅ Connect with other only-child families through our forums and social media pages.

✅ Share your experiences and get support from parents who understand.

✅ Get exclusive access to events and resources designed for only-child families.

👉 Join us today and celebrate your wonderful little family!

Comments

How Will You Celebrate Only Child Day?

We’d love to hear from you! 🎉 Do you have favorite books or movies that feature only children? What activities does your family enjoy together? Let us know in the comments below! 💬👇

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