Clever Hedgehog on International Children’s Day – June 1


Today is the first day of summer!

June 1 is also International Children’s Day, a day that aims to show how important it is to protect kids from harm and make their lives better everywhere in the world.

As of 2024, there are approximately 2.2 billion children in the world. Unfortunately, not all kids have safe, healthy, and happy lives. Some even have no food to eat, not saying toys or books! About 2 million Ukrainian children have had to flee their homes due to war since February 2022. Many Ukrainian families still live in different parts of the world, while others are staying in Ukraine. 

Clever Hedgehog hopes all kids will be safe and happy, no matter what. Keep dreaming big and never stop being curious and kind!

FUN IDEAS TO MARK THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER AND INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY

New Entertaining Short Stories in Ukrainian for Children

Синичка - Василь Горбатюк - оповідання для дітей
Ласощі для білочки - Василь Горбатюк - оповідання для дітей
не хочу-хочу Василь Горбатюк
Образа - Василь Горбатюк - оповідання для дітей

Embark on exciting adventures

This week, Clever Hedgehog is traveling to Hong Kong! His flight is 14 hours… Hope he can make it!

Clever Hedgehog loves travelling!

What about you? Does your family have plans to travel this summer?

Take Clever Hedgehog with you. Use this cut-out to get your own traveling Clever Hedgehog picture.

Traveling Clever Hedgehog Cut-Out

Imagine your summer with new coloring pages and crafts

Coloring page for kids, Stories with Clever Hedgehog
Coloring page for kids, Stories with Clever Hedgehog
build your ice cream cut out

See All Coloring Pages >>>

See All Crafts projects >>>

See All Printable Activities>>>

Learn New Games

See all Games here >>>

Active Game “What Time is it Mr. Fox?” 

Read how to play “What Time is it Mr. Fox?”:

“What Time is it, Mr. or Mrs. Fox?” is basically a game of tag for 3 or more people that involves less running and adds counting practice. An adult should start as Mr. Fox (you can put kids in charge once they get the hang of it) and organize everyone to stand side-by-side in a line.

Players yell out “What Time is it Mr. Fox (Mrs. Fox)?” and Mr. Fox (Mrs. Fox) yells out a time, e.g. “It’s 7 o’clock!” and the kids take that many steps forward.

The kids must continue to take steps forward based on the time called out even if it means they are super close to Mr. or Mrs. Fox.

This continues until Mr. Fox calls out “Lunch time!!” and the kids try to race back to the start line without getting tagged by Mr. Fox. Got tagged? That person is the next Mr. Fox.

Hand Clapping Game 👏 “Double Double This That”

Read how to play “Double Double This That”:

All you need is a partner.

So once you’ve found your partner, sit down, facing them.

All you need to know is three motions: The first one is “double” – you clap both hands.

The second one is “this” – you face your partner and hit their palms.

The third one is “that” – with the back of your hand you’re going to hit the back of your partner’s hands.

So it’s going to be: Next time try it a little faster. Then try really fast.

Double, double, this, this  
Double, double, this, this
Double, this, double, that
Double, double, this, that

Next time try it a little faster.

Then try really fast.

Game “Funny Script”

This is a “paper telephone game’ variation

Let’s Read A Book “Here Comes Summer”

Turn your mobile device to a Horizontal view for a better reading experience

Read more books from Clever Hedgehog’s Library >>>

Tell Clever Hedgehog what your favorite thing is about being a kid!

Have your parent nearby and email us at storieswithcleverhedgehog@gmail.com with what your favorite thing about being a kid. You may be featured on Clever Hedgehog’s website!

Download Clever Hedgehog’s Fun Screen-free Printable Activities >>>

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World Vyshyvanka Day

lET’S PUT ON YOUR FAVORITE VYSHYVANKA

World Vyshyvanka Day

Hey, kids! Did you know about World Vyshyvanka Day?

May 16 is a special day when Ukrainians around the world celebrate traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts called “vyshyvankas“! On this day, we wear our beautiful vyshyvankas to honor our culture and heritage. It’s a day filled with colors, patterns, and lots of fun activities to learn more about Ukrainian traditions!

Clever Hedgehog congratulates you on World Vyshyvanka Day!

Let’s learn more about Vyshyvanka

Vyshyvankas, like pysankas (traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs), are two of the most well-known symbols of Ukrainian culture. From old times people used embroidery to encode their “destiny, dreams, and happiness” in the national dress.

This holiday is not tied to any religion and is not a public holiday. It is celebrated to emphasize Ukrainian culture in the everyday life of Ukrainians.

Did you know when this holiday came to exist?
❗The idea arose from students and teachers from Chernivtsi National University in 2006.

Crafts for Vyshyvanka Day

Coloring page for kids, Stories with Clever Hedgehog

Ukrainian girl

Decorate a vyshyvanka

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📸 Clever Hedgehog’s Photo Contest! 📸

Are you ready to celebrate the most special person in the world – your mom?

Hello, dear friends! Are you ready to celebrate the most special person in the world – your mom? It is the day to congratulate your mother, aunt, and grandmother too!

Clever Hedgehog is excited to announce a photo contest, where you can show your love and appreciation for your amazing mom!

Clever Hedgehog wants to say a big “hooray” to all the moms who are always there for their kids.

How to Participate

🌟 Step 1: Take a photo with your mom or capture a special moment you shared.

🌟 Step 2: Get creative! You can dress up, make funny faces, or show off your favorite activity with mom!

🌟 Step 3: Tag us on your photo on Instagram or Facebook with #CleverHedgehog_contest or send your photo to us at storieswithcleverhedgehog@gmail.com with your name, age, and a short description of why your mom is THE best!

Valentine's Day Cards
Valentine's Day Cards

Contest Rules

🎉 The contest is open to all children who want to celebrate their moms!

🎉 Only one photo submission per participant, so choose your favorite picture!

🎉 Photos must be original and taken by you.

🎉 By sending us your photo, you agree and give permission to let Clever Hedgehog share it on his website and social media.

Awards and Honors

🏅 All participants will receive a special certificate of participation from Clever Hedgehog!

🏆 The top 3 winners will receive a special prize!

Submission Deadline: June 1

Get your cameras ready and let’s celebrate the wonderful moms in our lives! We can’t wait to see all the heartwarming and creative photos you’ll send us!

With love,

Clever Hedgehog 🦔

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Mother’s Day – A Day To Make Your Mom Feel Special

Are you ready to celebrate the most special person in the world – your mom?

This Sunday, May 12, 2024, will be extra special for us. It’s Mother’s Day

Our mothers deserve to be loved throughout the year, but Mother’s Day is the time to show how their love and effort are special to us with family activities and gifts.

Clever Hedgehog wants to say a big “hooray” to all the moms who are always there for their kids.

On Mother’s Day, family members make sure their mother feels special and surprise her with gifts, take her out for dinner, or even cook for her at home.

Mother’s Day in Ukraine

A few years ago, Ukraine joined countries where this holiday is celebrated. Mother’s Day in Ukraine is celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year.

Valentine's Day Cards

Finding a Mother’s Day surprise can be difficult.

Clever Hedgehog has some gift ideas for children to make Mother’s Day extra special

Hand-made Mother’s Day card

Hand-made cards are among the best gifts you can offer your mother this day.

Coloring page for kids, Stories with Clever Hedgehog, Happy spring coloring page, a gift to my mom
More Coloring Pages Here

Chocolates

You may not see your mom eating sweets often, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t like it. You can surprise her with chocolates in this cute trinket box.

Flowers for your mom

Add colors to the Mother’s Day celebrations by getting your mom flowers she loves or making one yourself! 

You will need: scissors, construction paper, and glue. Follow the instructions from this video

Sing a song for your mom 

Your mom will love to hear you sing this lovely Ukrainian song!

Make your Mom smile

Laughing is a sign of happiness. Tell your mom some funny jokes to make her laugh!

If you or your mom know the Ukrainian language – Find jokes in a NEW BOOK with jokes for kids

Tell your mom some fun facts about Mother’s Day, like this one:

Did you know that there are lots and lots of moms in the world, about 2 billion of them? In the U.S., there are about 85.4 million moms.

More Fun Facts about Mother’s Day

A NEW CONTEST – Tell us why your mom is special!

Take a photo with your mom or capture a special moment you shared. Get creative! You can dress up, make funny faces, or show off your favorite activity with Mom!

Contest Rules

🏆 The top 3 winners will receive a diploma and a special prize! 

🌟 Send your photo to us at storieswithcleverhedgehog@gmail.com with your name, age, and a story of why your mom is the best!

Remember! – You can only send us pictures or videos with you. By sending us your photo, you agree to let Clever Hedgehog share it on our website and social media (with a parent/guardian permission).

Clever Hedgehog wants to congratulate the moms of Clever Hedgehog’s team. You are great!

The Enormous Turnip Fairy Tales Stories with Clever Hedgehog репка

Roberta Golinkoff

In addition to her groundbreaking research and esteemed career as a professor, Dr. Roberta Golinkoff is a caring mother. Her commitment to making a difference in the lives of Ukrainian children affected by the war reflects her compassionate and empathetic nature as both a mother and a renowned scholar.

The Enormous Turnip Fairy Tales Stories with Clever Hedgehog репка

Alisa Moldavanova

While Alisa is known for her expertise and leadership in academia, she is also admired for her role as a mother. Despite her busy schedule, she prioritizes her family and is deeply committed to their well-being.

The Enormous Turnip Fairy Tales Stories with Clever Hedgehog репка

Olena Smith

In addition to her professional achievements and contributions to the University of Delaware’s Geospatial Research community, Olena is also a dedicated mother. Born and raised in Ukraine, she brings values of hard work, community engagement, and a rich cultural background to her family life.

The Enormous Turnip Fairy Tales Stories with Clever Hedgehog репка

Olga Zhestkova

In addition to her expertise as a web specialist, Olga is also a loving mother. Olga always makes time for her family. Originally from Ukraine and now residing in Boston, MA, ensuring her daughter stays connected to Ukrainian roots and heritage.

Clever Hedgehog has some gift ideas for children to make Mother's Day extra special

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Hedgehog Awareness Week 

Hedgehog Awareness Week is observed yearly on the second week of May. This year is observed on 5–11 May 2024. It was introduced by the British Hedgehog Protection Society (BHPS) in 2011. The week aims to highlight the problems that our beautiful hedgehogs 🦔 face and how we can all help to protect them.

Hedgehogs are endangered, which means the number of hedgehogs is falling. The main danger to hedgehogs is loss of habitat or places to live. They find it difficult to find places to make a nest.

Download FACTS SHEET ABOUT HEDGEHOGS

Clever Hedgehog has a lot of fun materials for all hedgehog lovers!

Where do hedgehogs live?

Hedgehogs 🦔 sleep for a large portion of the day under bushes, grasses, rocks, or most commonly in dens dug underground.

What do hedgehogs eat?

Hedgehogs aren’t fussy when it comes to food 🍲! Hedgehogs are omnivores, which means they eat both plants 🌿 and insects 🐛.

Hedgehogs 🦔 are lactose intolerant! They may have a stomach ache from drinking milk 🥛.

Baby hedgehogs 🦔

Baby hedgehogs 🦔 are called hoglets. They are born with soft spines under the skin, and a second set of spines comes through after a couple of days.

Thanksgiving clever hedgehog
Read More FUN FACTS ABOUT HEDGEHOGS
clever hedgehog with a paper plane

Let’s Read A Book Hedgehogs “Hedgie, A Prickly Garden Friend” from Clever Hedgehog’s Library

Turn your mobile device to a Horizontal view for a better reading experience

Hedgehog and hare fairy tale

Once upon a time, in a faraway forest, the King Grizzly Bear wanted to see the fastest among the animals. Let’s find together who the winner was.

Read the story
Coloring page for kids, Stories with Clever Hedgehog
Coloring page for kids, Stories with Clever Hedgehog
Coloring page for kids, Stories with Clever Hedgehog

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tags: protect hedgehogs, Hedgehog Awareness Week activities, Hedgehog Awareness Week coloring page, fun facts about hedgehogs

Egg Hunt, Haivky and Pysanky with Clever Hedgehog for kids

Happy Easter!

Orthodox Easter 2024 is coming quite late this year – on May 5th. Some people in Ukraine and many other countries have already celebrated Easter on March 31. Read our post about Easter traditions in Ukraine, USA, Australia and Guatemala here >>>

Clever Hedgehog wants to tell you about recent events and his favorite Ukrainian Easter traditions – haivky and pysanky.

Easter Egg Hunt and Haivky event for Ukrainian kids

This year for the first time, Clever Hedgehog led a fantastic Easter Egg Hunt and Haivky event for kids at the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Delaware! 

It was a day filled with laughter, fun, and community spirit, enjoyed by all: the children had fun running around the backyard of the church in search of eggs, after which parents joined them for singing and dancing special Ukrainian spring songs and dances – vesnianky and haivky.

 Take a look at adorable photos of the fantastic moments we captured from this event.

Easter Egg Hunt and Haivky event for Ukrainian kids
Easter Egg Hunt and Haivky event for Ukrainian kids
Easter Egg Hunt and Haivky event for Ukrainian kids
Easter Egg Hunt and Haivky event for Ukrainian kids
Easter Egg Hunt and Haivky event for Ukrainian kids

🌷What is Haivky?

You probably know what an Easter Egg Hunt is, but you may have not heard about Ukrainian Haivky.

For our ancestors, a new year used to begin with the awakening of Mother Nature from her winter sleep in the spring. Spring was greeted joyfully with songs, dances, and games.

Ukrainian haivky are traditional spring songs and dances, performed only during Easter. 

Let’s Read A Book “Ukrainian Easter” from Clever Hedgehog’s Library

Turn your mobile device to a Horizontal view for a better reading experience

Our Spring Scavenger Hunt is still in full swing on the website! Click the link to learn more about it >>>

Let’s Read A New Book “Ukrainian Pysanky” from Clever Hedgehog’s Library

Turn your mobile device to a Horizontal view for a better reading experience

Easter Printables and Coloring Pages

Free Easter activity coloring
Free Easter activity coloring
Free Easter activity coloring

Easter Fun Activity Free Printable PDF

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?

Clever Hedgehog’s friends created the largest Pysanka in Ukraine

Pysanka is a special Ukrainian Easter egg 🥚 painted with different patterns and colors.

Now in Zhovkva (Ukraine), you can find the largest Pysanka in Ukraine.

The big Pysanka set a new record for Ukraine as the Biggest Pysanka made of smaller pysankas!

This Easter egg 🥚 is special: it’s more than 3 feet (1.5 meters) tall and it’s made up of 480 smaller Pysankas! Many local kids helped create this big Easter egg and embroidered each little egg themselves. It took three months to finish!

Galyna Prykuta, a talented artist, inspired kids and helped them create this beauty.

You can see this Pysanka in the central square of Zhovkva in Ukraine where it stands proudly, beautifully embroidered. This big Pysanka is not just a beautiful decoration, it is also a reminder of the festive days of Easter!

Ukrainian Spring song – Haivky song – Podolyanochka

Learn a haivky song Podolyanocka and sing with Clever Hedgehog - Вивчи гаївку Подоляночка та заспівайте з Їжачком-Розумничком

Ukrainian haivky songs and dances

Game with pysanky

   Follow Clever Hedgehog and do not miss the next event we will announce soon! 

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#EasterEvent #CleverHedgehog #CommunitySpirit 

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tags: Orthodox Easter, Pysanky, Ukrainian Easter egg, the biggest pysanka in Ukraine, Explaining Easter to young children, Easter resources for parents and kids, Toddler-Friendly Easter coloring pages, haivky for Ukrainian kids, book about pysanky