Hyderabad: That one day in a year when grown-ups step back and let childhood run free. And in Hyderabad, it isn’t just a day this time; it’s a whole week, as Children’s Day spills into days before and after. “I look forward to this one day when I can be free of the burden of homework and just have fun,” says a Class 5 student of a city school.
For schools like Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TSWREIS), a government institute dedicated to uplifting underprivileged students, the focus goes beyond just celebration. Principal P. Aparna shares that they are organising a special tour to Quantum Life University for a day of meditation and mental well-being. “Our focus this year is mental well-being, and we are taking the students there for a meditative session,” she explains. “They’re eager to explore places in Hyderabad that are unique and rare, and this trip gives them that chance.”
At Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Atmakuri Rama Rao School in Jubilee Hills, Children’s Day is being celebrated with a packed schedule of activities. The celebrations which began on November 11 included a No Bag Day, a movie screening and also a flash mob session on November 13. The grand finale on November 14 promises a cultural programme, games, and an exciting “Dark Fantasy” experience with a fantasy bus set up on school premises.
At Epistemo Vikas Leadership School, Principal Padma Kolli has taken the celebrations outside the classroom. “We are taking the children to Gachibowli Stadium for sports events. It’s a 100 per cent participation thing. For this year, we thought exposure outside school and linking it to sports would be nice,” she explains.
Middle and high school students will participate in the track events, while the pre-primary and primary students await a surprise organised by their teachers indoors. “Every day is a Children’s Day, but this day becomes particularly special for children. They can be free-spirited, with no expectations,” adds Principal Padma.
At Monarch High School in the Old City, the approach is one of inclusivity, empowerment, and a focus on life skills. Founder and director Mohammed Shafi views Children’s Day as more than a celebration — it’s a chance to instil values that can shape the future.
“Empowering children is empowering India,” he says. “By prioritising life skills and emotional intelligence, Children’s Day can become a powerful platform for promoting 21st-century skills, values, and social responsibility.” This year, Monarch High School has organised activities to reach out to marginalised communities, with inclusive events for children with disabilities, outreach programmes for the underprivileged, and scholarships and resource support for those in need.
Beyond the celebrations, Monarch High School will host a "Kids' Parliament" to discuss child rights and governance. “School education should not be commercialised,” adds Mohammed Shafi, as he reflects on Children’s Day and the vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. “We need more Nehrus, Kalams, Boses, Ambedkars, and Patels to make our nation a Vishwaguru, so it is important children are socially aware,” he concludes.
For students like Afiya Fathima, a Class 10 student at Monarch High School, this Children’s Day has a deeper meaning. As her last Children’s Day in school, she feels the weight of the day.
“It’s sad that it’s my last, but I’ll keep my childhood alive and never let it die, no matter what,” she says.
On the other side of the town, Sravyageethika Challa, a Class 10 student, will also be celebrating her final Children’s Day at school. “I’ll really miss the snack we get every Children’s Day. I really look forward to it,” she shares, fondly recalling the small tradition that made the day special for her. This year, she’ll be participating in the relay race at her school’s Children’s Day event, ready to make the most of the day.
