April 21, 2022 - National High Five Day | National Kindergarten Day

Welcome to April 21, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate high fives and a garden for kids. If you’ve ever given someone a high five—and who hasn’t?—you can thank the Los Angeles Dodgers. On October 2, 1977, Dusty Baker hit a home run to put the Dodgers ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in their playoff game. As he crossed home plate, his teammate Glenn Burke ran toward him with a hand in the air and slapped Baker’s raised hand. This perfect bonding moment is widely regarded as the first ever High Five. The gesture has become so ubiquitous that it now feels like second nature in a moment of celebration. On National High Five Day, celebrate by putting your hands in the air and passing on the joy to a friend. If you really want to get crazy, go for the double high five. Most of us know that kindergarten is where kids make the leap from learning at home to learning at school. This very important stage of child development was recognized by a German teacher, Friedrich Wilhelm August Frobel in 1837. He is credited with starting the first kindergarten in Blankenburg, Germany. Realizing that children learn through play and experience, his class was designed to ease the transition at this crucial stage of life. Here in the United States, the first kindergarten was opened in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1856, but it wasn’t formally adopted nationwide until 1873. On National Kindergarten Day, we celebrate those special first teachers who make a difference in the lives of our children. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices