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Welcome to the
Kids Page!
If you were born on
February 29
your birthday will be on a
Thursday in Leap Year 2024!
Someone born on February 29 was born on Leap Day or Leap Year Day.
The odds are 1 in 1461!
You don't have to be born on February 29 to enjoy Leap Day. It's everyone's extra day so do something good with it!
WHAT DO WE CALL PEOPLE BORN ON FEBRUARY 29?
We are Leap Year Day babies or Leap Day babies. Anyone can be born IN a Leap Year. We were born ON Leap Year Day. There's a significant difference. If you were born on February 29, you are a Leap Day baby. Many born on February 29 say that they were born "on Leap Year". I used to say that too until I learned the entire year is a Leap Year and February 29 is Leap Day. It's just like saying New Year's baby or Christmas baby. Leap Day baby means you were born on February 29.
2016
Leopold’s Long Awaited Leap Year Birthday
by Dawn Desjardins
Leopold and his parents wait patiently for his first birthday, February 29th, but it just never seems to come. Finally, the wise old doctor considers the calendars, clocks and seasons ...and concludes Leopold has a Leap Year birthday! Leopold's mother explains this
special day as a "Peek-a-boo-holiday...It's there, it is just (sometimes) hiding." Leopold and his friends celebrate his first birthday, and four great years of life! Educational and fun, this story celebrates waiting for a birthday, specifically a Leap Day birthday, and is an excellent primer in explaining why there are 365 and 1/4 days in a year.
IF I WAS BORN ON LEAP DAY HOW OLD AM I ... REALLY?
When speaking of your Leap-age, it is incorrect to say you are "2 years old" when you are really 8 years old.
You are 2 LEAP Years old.
Or- even better, just simply 2.
Keeping it simple has the biggest impact.
When talking about a friend or relative born on Leap Day, it is best to say, "This is my aunt; she is only 5."
Then, watch the change in facial expressions. Don't say "5 years old" because that doesn't make sense. For example, I was born in 1960, but I turned 15 this last Leap Year 2020! See the difference? And I will be 16, again, in Leap Year 2024!
HOW TO TELL IF IT'S A LEAP YEAR
BY WHICH DAY OF THE WEEK IT IS?
Another way to tell if it's a Leap Year or not is by which day of the week the year starts and ends on.
Every year January 1 and December 31
(the first and last day of the year)
fall on the same day of the week.
For example, if January 1 is a Tuesday,
then December 31 is also a Tuesday.
Unless, of course, it's a Leap Year.
Leap Years only occur in years that show January 1st landing on one day of the week and December 31 on the following day of the week. For example, for the Leap Year 2020, January 1 is a Wednesday and December 31 is a Thursday (Leap Day is a Saturday!). See the table below to see when Leap Day was or will be between the Leap Years 1904 and 2040.
Sunday if you were born in... 1920 1948 1976 2004 2032
Monday if you were born in... 1904 1932 1960 1988 2016
Tuesday if you were born in... 1916 1944 1972 2000 2028
Wednesday if you were born in... 1928 1956 1984 2012 2040
Thursday if you were born in... 1912 1940 1968 1996 2024
Friday if you were born in... 1924 1952 1980 2008 2036
Saturday if you were born in... 1908 1936 1964 1992 2020
IF YOU ARE A LEAP DAY BABY...
You will hear the same questions for the rest of your life!
If you haven't heard these yet, you will! Be ready.
1. When do you celebrate?
2. How old are you really?
3. What's it like to not get a birthday?
Number 3... -Of course, we get a birthday. We age, we celebrate that age every year, and we get a birthday.
The question they are really asking is:
What is it like to have a birthday that's not on the calendar every year?
Explain to them that you do get a birthday. Just because it's not on the calendar doesn't mean you don't get one. It doesn't mean we don't age either.
Let them know what it feels like to you. Be honest. Sometimes, when they know what Leap Day is all about, they appreciate the knowledge. Some have shared that they want to be a Leap Day baby too!
WHEN DO LEAP DAY BABIES
CELEBRATE THEIR BIRTHDAY?
In Leap Years, we celebrate on February 29th. We get to do that only every 4 years. In off years, we can celebrate on February 28th because we were born in February. However, we were born the day after the 28th so we can celebrate on March 1st if we want to. Or both days because we can! And some of us do!
It’s Not Leap Year This Year
by Michelle Whitaker-Winfrey
It's Not Leap Year this year! A Leap Year Story. A story about a boy named Miles who was born on February 29 There is just one problem...
February 29th does not come this year. What would you do if you were told that you could pick any day you want to celebrate your birthday?
That's exactly what Miles's mom told him he could do. Which day does Miles pick to celebrate his non-Leap Year birthday?
THE FIRST 4 LEAP YEARS
I'm a little Leapling, smart and fun.
When I turn four, I'll really be one.
I'm a little Leapy, with lots to do.
When I turn eight, I'll really be two.
I'm a little Leaper, with lots to see.
When I turn twelve, I'll really be three.
I'm a Leap Day baby, and so much more.
When I turn sixteen, I'll really be four.
By Raenell Dawn
DC Special No. 21 MAY 1976
Super-Heroes'
War Against The Monsters
GREEN LANTERN VS.
THE LEAP YEAR MENACE!
DC WESTERN COMICS featuring
MATT SAVAGE
in
"THE LEAP YEAR BANDITS!"
Even decades (like 1960, 1980, 2000, 2020) have three Leap Years, whereas odd decades (like 1950, 1970, 1990, 2010) have two Leap Years.
1960-1964-1968
1972-1976
1980-1984-1988
1992-1996
2000-2004-2008
2012-2016
2020-2024-2028
WHEN WILL I BE OF LEGAL AGE?
Where you live will determine when you may drive or be considered an adult.
Regardless of when we celebrate, we will not be our next age until after midnight of February 28, no matter what the next day is. That makes sense, right?
The poems can be used for hand-clapping games too! If you make up a hand-clap game to any of our poems, please send us
video. We will post it on our sites and our social media pages.
Thanks!
SUPERMAN IS A LEAP DAY BABY? SAY WHAT?
Yep. The numbers don't add up, and in real life there is no way he could be. BUT! He's the invention of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. They could make Superman's birthday be any day they wanted, and they chose Leap Day! Click on the coin to read more about it in the LeapZeum.
28 DAYS HAS FEBRUARY
Twenty-eight days has February
A very light load for one month to carry
The other months have 2 and 3 more
Thirty and thirty-one being their big score
In Leap Years the days they do vary
Making 29 days in February
by D. D. Ochampeterspaughson
The reason we need for Leap Day is because of how the Earth spins on its axis and rotates around the Sun.
TURNING 13 is a big deal to some of us.
But when we Leap Day kids turn 13,
in annual years, our birth DATE is not
on the calendar. So, no one can tell it's
our birthday because it's not there to
remind them. That's what I'm talking
about in the following poem:
THE BIRTHDAY RHYME
There is a girl named Raenell
Who didn't like her birthday very well.
When she turned 13,
she thought it quite mean,
It was her birthday but no one could tell!
(You may substitute the first line with:
There is a girl I know well, or boy I know well...)
When I was a kid, I didn't think it was very cool to have a birthday that's only on the calendar every four years. My thinking changed when I turned 4@16. Ever since I've thought it a very cool date to be born on, especially after learning more about it.
TEASING - AND WE'RE NOT TALKIN' HAIR!
Like many kids, I got teased in elementary school. Kids back then were not as aware of Leap Year Day as kids of more recent generations are. They didn't know how cool it really it is.
There were kids who sang, "You don't get a birthday" in that sing-song style kids do so well.
They said things like,"You can't play with us, you're a baby!" or "You're only 2, how could you know?!"
When my second-grade teacher asked if we knew someone born on February 29. I raised my hand and told her I was born on that day. She said, "Oh, you poor child" The the teasing started very next recess.
Teachers in this generation know so much about Leap Year. But- there might be an UnLeapified teacher somewhere. So be aware, be Leap Year Day Aware, and make sure your teacher is too!
WHO IS RAENELL AND WHY DOES SHE THINK SHE KNOWS SO MUCH ABOUT THIS?
I am not a child or even a parent. But I've been a child, and I am a Leap Day baby.
I want to give you an older Leap Day baby's perspective to help you understand Leap Year Day. It's nice to be born on a day in history that represents balance and harmony.
With the information provided on this site, now, maybe more than ever, teachers, students, and parents will have a clearer understanding of what Leap Year is and what Leap Day is.
And if you are a Leap Day baby, I hope you better understand why your birthday isn't on the calendar every year.
If you are not a Leap Day baby, I hope you, also, have a clearer understanding of this special day.
February 29, Leap Day, is not just our birthday, it's everyone's extra day. Do something good with it!
Please contact me if you have any questions or comments regarding this subject.
You may contact me below.
Be sure to have your parent/guardian's permission first.
Thanks for being responsible.
