Celebrating World Lion Day with Kids

World Lion Day is an international event that is held each year on August 10th to raise awareness for lion conservation. The first Lion Day event was held in Zambia in 2013, organized by conservationists Rae Kokeš and David Youldon, who worked for The African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT). Since then it has become recognized by numerous wildlife conservation groups and is celebrated annually worldwide.

World Lion Day is the perfect time to learn more about these majestic felines. Here are a few ways to celebrate with kids.

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Learn Why Lion Conservation Matters

World Lion Day is all about raising awareness for lion conservation. Learn more about the threats lions face in the wild and why their populations are declining in this article from the World Wildlife Fund.

Take a Virtual Field Trip to See Lions at the Zoo

With the Smithsonian National Zoo’s Lion Cam, you can get a look at their Great Cats exhibit without ever having to leave home. The live feed gives a peek into the lives of the two male lions named Shaka and Jumbe who live in the lion habitat.

>>>Check out the Smithsonian National Zoo’s Lion Cam here.

Learn About Lions

Lions are fascinating animals that kids will love to learn more about. This National Geographic Kids article on lions gives a great overview about these majestic mammals.

Videos are a fun way for kids to get a glimpse of lions’ life in the wild. Check out these kid-friendly videos from BBC Earth Kids to learn more about lion behavior.

Day in the Life of a Lion Pride

Little Lions Play Hide & Seek

Curious Lion Cub Falls in the Water

Read a Book About Lions

Reading a book about lions with your kids is a fun way to celebrate World Lion Day. Here are a few different options to enjoy.

Baby Lion Finger Puppet Book by Yu-hsuan Huang

Perfect for toddlers, this cute little board book features a lion finger puppet that pokes through each page.

Lion Lullaby by Kate Banks

A great bedtime story, this book tells the tale of lion cubs heading home at dark just in time to curl up together and go to sleep.

The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio

A timeless tale about a friendly lion who escapes from his home at a French zoo and decides to visit the townspeople.

The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc

A sweet story about a lion who cares for an injured bird and the two form an unlikely friendship.

The Lion King by Justine Korman

Based on the classic movie, this story follows young Simba as he grows up and discovers his place in the animal kingdom.

An Adventure for Lia and Lion by Al Rodin

A fun story about a girl and a lion who set off on an adventure together, and what happens when they both try to take charge.

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

A unique retelling of Aesop’s classic fable about a lion and a mouse, told entirely through engaging illustrations.

National Geographic Kids: Lions by Laura Marsh

A nonfiction book perfect for early readers that’s filled with photos and fun facts to help kids learn all about lions.

Listen to a Podcast About Lions and Other Big Cats

Learn more about lions and their feline relatives by listening to the Big Cats: Lions, Tigers & Roars (Oh My!) episode of WNYC’s Terrestrials podcast. Kids will visit the Bronx Zoo with a big cat expert and discover some surprising facts about lions, tigers, cheetahs and other fascinating felines.

Color A Lion Coloring Page

A coloring page featuring a cute little lion cub makes a great screen-free World Lion Day activity for kids. You’ll find a free lion coloring page in my shop.

Bake Lion Cookies

Kids will love making lion cookies for World Lion Day! Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe and decorate them with a mane and lion face. Need inspiration? Check out this adorable lion cookie tutorial.

Sew a Felt Lion

Sewing a felt lion is a fun World Lion Day craft for kids 5-6 years old and up. This sweet little felt lion is pretty easy to sew, though younger kids may appreciate a little help cutting out the small pieces. The pattern is from Little Dear and also includes a cheetah, giraffe, zebra, and elephant.

Learning to hand sew also has many practical benefits for children and can help to boost their creativity as well as their hand-eye coordination, math skills, patience, problem solving, and more! Sewing is also a very practical life skill that can allow them to mend clothing and make a variety of things.

Discuss Who Would Win in a Fight: Lion vs. Tiger

Some children aren’t as interested in crafts, but they’d love debating which animal would win in a fight! Have your kids consider whether a lion or tiger would win. The fun part is that because the two big cats are surprisingly well matched, there’s not necessarily a right answer.

Read about their different strengths and a few recorded encounters in this blog post, then let them decide which one they think would win the epic battle.

Celebrating World Lion Day with Kids

Learning about animals helps kids develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the incredible creatures we share the planet with. World Lion Day is a fun opportunity to foster that curiosity while learning more about lions and why protecting them matters.

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August 12 is World Elephant Day! Keep the animal themed fun going with a free elephant coloring page featuring fun facts about these incredible animals.