Sign up below, you’ll get a free digital kit with resources, games and decorations for your event– at home, online, or in groups where it’s safe to do so

In partnership with UNICEF World Children’s Day, POP-UP Festival is celebrated in 200+ countries are sharing free, playful, meaningful activities to help kids grow their emotional intelligence and take action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

You are invited to be part of it!

Still have questions?

Download your HANDBOOK POP-UP Festival

and see FAQs below for more info

Let’s play! Fill in the form to sign up

Mini POP-UPs

 

Activities to try now

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Media

 

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POP-UP Festival Frequently Asked Questions

What is a POP-UP Festival?

A POP-UP Festival is a hands-on learning experience that you create by printing the activity “stations,” gathering simple materials, and inviting people to come together to learn & play. Each host decides which “stations” to print and adapts to their audience.

Here is an example of the POP-UP Festival kit in use:

How do I sign up?

On this page (above) there’s a form — click here to go to the signup form — when you fill in the form you’re signed up to receive the POP-UP Kit with activities & instructions. Then, you can decide how big of a festival you’ll hold… it can be a few people around a kitchen table, or a few hundred in a park!

What happens after I sign up?

After you sign up, you’ll start getting emails with instructions about the event. We have online meetings to help people get ready, and samples, and plenty of instructions.

We even have “mini festival” materials for you to practice with a small group.

The plan is to hold a POP-UP Festival — for ANY size group of children, adults, or both together. You can sign up as an individual volunteer or as an organization. Either way, here’s what you’ll receive:

A welcome email with our timeline, and invitation to help with translation and sharing of the event

Invitation to online meetings / webinars to discuss preparations — please also join our Facebook Group for additional Q&A.

A link to download resources to help you spread the word (slides, letter, invitation) that you can translate if needed, and begin scheduling your event(s).

A link to the POP-UP Festival Kit, which includes:

Instructions on how to organize, plan and run your event

Gallery of Activities to help you choose which you want to use (and materials for each — these are “simple” things like pens, tape, paper) The printable materials are listed with each activity. ( associated handouts, cards/games)

Instructions & Discussion Questions to tell you how to play and make the activities.  The content is mobile friendly– so you won’t need to print out.  The discussion at the end of each activity is the MOST important part of the POP-UP Festival.  It helps children link the activity they are learning to themselves, building the skills of EQ and developing the SDGs content.

The POP-UP Festival includes a wide range of activities. You choose the ones that fit your group, print them, and have a learning-together-party!

Why are you doing this? Can you explain more what it is?

Why? It’s the most important work there is. If we can raise awareness, inspire hope, and fuel passion for young people to develop the skills for building the future… and adults with the skills to support them… everything is possible.

What is World Children's Day?

The United Nations declared Children’s Day to encourage societies to support the wellbeing of children. November 20th is the anniversary of the signing of Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely-signed human rights legislation in the history of the world. The purpose of the day, according to the U.N. is:

“Let us promote and celebrate children’s rights on the Universal Children’s Day, and continuously build up a living-friendly environment for children in the world through dialogue and actions.”

It’s also the date of the signing of the Declaration on the Rights of the Child (1959). In part, this Declaration was a response to the atrocities of WWII, and the growing recognition that children require special protection. 

To celebrate, we’re holding POP-UP Festivals in 175+ countries in November — where children and their adults will learn about emotions, wellbeing, children’s rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Where can POP-UP Festivals be held?

Anywhere!

Your POP-UP Festival can be held at home, in a classroom or church, at an office lobby, a children’s museum, in the park…anywhere children and the people who love them live, work & play.

It really depends on what’s available to you / your friends & allies / and who you want to invite. Many people are planning a POP-UP Festival in their home with a few friends. Some are planning to hold dozens of Festivals in every school in their town… it’s a very adaptable project!

Here are suggestions for holding the POP-UP Festival in your workplace/office.

 

Who can hold a POP-UP Festival?

Everyone who cares about children who is able to…

  • Bring a group of 2+ people together
  • Find a space where the group will be able to gather (you’ll need either floor space or tables for the activities)
  • Read through the materials, choose activities
  • Print the activity instruction “stations” and the handouts or cards
  • Gather simple resources like coloring pens/pencils, tape, color paper
  • Welcome participants to explore and learn and play together in a loving, joyful experience

Many people are volunteering together with a friend or small group.

Volunteers so far include parents, police officers, teachers, teen service club members, nurses, nuns & other clergy members, club leaders, human resource departments, counselors, employee relations departments, union leaders, and more!

How can nonprofits / NGOs / community orgs participate?

If your work or community group relates to children’s rights, wellbeing, or emotional intelligence — join as an organization:

  1. Invite your members to sign up on http://6sec.org/popup to hold their own POP-UP Festivals
  2. Contribute content by making a POP-UP Festival “station” that people around the world can use in their events
  3. Have a POP-UP Festival with your organization / team
  4. Help translate the kit
  5. Help us spread the word by engaging influencers, journalists, bloggers to share about the event
How easy is it to run a POP-UP Festival? Do I need special training?

POP-UP Festival materials were designed to be easy to deliver. It’s not a “presentation” or a “workshop” — the stations are self-guided, designed for children (who can read) or adults & children together, or adults, to explore, talk, play and learn-by-doing.

We will be holding optional “host trainings” online to answer your questions and give you support before you host your festival. In addition, you are very welcome to ask questions and get support in our Facebook Group.

There is no special equipment, materials or training needed to be a host! The requirements are simple (see the question above, “Who can hold a POP-UP Festival?”)

There are a range of festival stations to choose from, so if some seem too complex, no problem, you can skip those.  

Are the materials in my language?
We have had translators work to get the materials into 16 languages. Please register to review our current list of languages.
 
If you can help translate we would love to have you volunteer.  Contact [email protected] for translation questions.
When is the event? Do I have to celebrate on November 20?
In honor of the UN’s World Children’s Day on November 20 we have created POP-UP Festivals.  To support our partner UNICEF World Children’s Day we would love to get lots of social media sharing during the month of November.  But for maximum impact we want you to host a festival all November. Get it on the calendar today.
 

You can host a festival anytime during the month of November! 

 

 

Who should attend? What's the right age for a POP-UP Festival?
Your audience can be children, adults, or both together.
 
Children
POP-UP Festival stations have been created for a wide range of ages.  There are stations that will work well for children under 5-year-olds, 5-12, 13-18, and adults.
 
This age-group information is listed at the top of the host instructions for each activity station.  Because you are creating a festival that’s just for your audience, you can choose the stations that work best.  
 
For young children who are not reading yet, you’ll need to adapt to have older children or adults who can help.
 
Teens
Several of the activities are ideal for teens for their own learning. Others are too “childish” for teens. So, you’ll need to select the activities tagged for teens. In addition, a wonderful role for teen participants is to ask them to be the hosts of the festival for parents + younger children. It’s helpful to have someone at each station who knows the game/exercise and can explain it… especially for people who don’t read yet.
 
Adults
The POP-UP Festival will be extra-fun for adults+children together, but it’s meaningful and interesting for adults only. They’ll learn more about their own emotions & wellbeing… and about how to support and communicate with children.
 
Adults could be parents, teachers, counselors, doctors & nurses, police officers, youth group facilitators…etc — basically anyone who has some interest in the future generation.
Where can I find photos and press releases?

Please check out the media kit for fast facts, press releases, photos & videos, and social media resources:

How can I help? I love this idea!
What we most need is energy & influence to engage more people in this global party! So help us spread the word about POP-UP Festivals.  We’d love to get as many people around the world to join us. 
 
Can you help us amplify on social media?  Please check out our social media page for sharing on FB, Twitter, IG, LinkedIn. http://www.6seconds.org/popup
 
Do you know journalists, bloggers, or others with a big reach?
Tell them about the event and get them to the media kit here: http://www.6seconds.org/popup/media/
 
In your network do you know leaders of nonprofits who’s members would like to join?
How about people in companies who can hold a POP-UP Festival in their office/workplace for employees and/or community members?
 
Other ideas? Please come discuss on our Facebook Group here. Or please fill in the form below to contact us directly:
 
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Mini POP-UPs

 

Activities to try now

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map

 

Volunteers & Partners

 

 

Media

 

Spread the Word!

 

 

Partners

 

Become a Partner