Today - January 13th - Is, "National Rubber Ducky Day", So Let's Make Ducks!

Yes, believe it or not, today is, "National Rubber Ducky Day!" In 1970, Jim Henson  performed the song “Rubber Duckie” as Ernie on Sesame Street, and the rubber duck bath toy has been an iconic American symbol ever since. Rubber ducks have been around since the rise of the rubber industry in the late 1800s, but no one knows their exact origin.

Did you know in January of 1992, a shipment of 29,000 rubber duckies fell off a cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean? By 2007, the 'Friendly Floaties' had traveled 17,000 miles around the world on the ocean currents. Some are still afloat today! Over the years, people reported sightings in Indonesia, Australia, South America, the Bering Straight, the Arctic, and (eventually) the Atlantic Ocean." (I found this info on-line at punchbowl dot com.) Look at these fun rubber duck fun facts - did you know . . .

• Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman created a collection of large ducks which can be seen in Amsterdam, Sydney, Hong Kong, and various other cities around the world. Hofman makes the ducks out of PVC, and the largest creation is 85 feet wide, 65 feet long, and 105 feet high.
• The United Nations Children’s Fund had more than 50,000 ducks swim the Danube River. 
• Every year, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH hosts a race of the duckies through Big Walnut Creek. Each duck is purchased by a sponsor to support research for the hospital. You can buy one for $5, or a “brood” of 130 for $500. Thousands of the yellow toys are unleashed into the creek, and onlookers watch to see which one crosses the finish line first. The top three ducks (marked with their sponsor’s name) earn the sponsors big prizes—like a year-lease for a BMW!
• The famous Rubber Duckie song became such a hit it even reached number 16 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart in 1970 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Recording for Children!
• Rumors swirled in 2001 from a British tabloid saying that Queen Elizabeth II had her own royal version of the rubber ducky in her bathroom—complete with a crown!

I thought it might be fun on this "ducky day" to make some ducks of our own, so I browsed on Pinterest and found the following, "Ducky" crafts . . . 

• It isn't a rubber ducky, but it is a cute ducky! Check this link for making a tennis ball ducky!
• Again, while they are not "rubber", they are duckies! And, it is a FREE download so you can make your own paper rubber duckies! Follow this link for the FREE download!

• One more which isn't rubber, but is a lot of fun none-the-less, Rubber Ducky Masks! I think you could use plain white plates, and just have your grandchildren color them the appropriate colors if you do not have yellow and orange plates! Follow this link for the specifics and make masks . . . then wear them and have great fun being "rubber duckies"!

You could also get some rubber duckies and then play "hide-n-seek" for a family Rubber Ducky Silly Holiday fun game. After you find them all, get some permanent ink markers and decorate them for a rubber ducky best "dressed" contest for additional fun!

Happy Rubber Ducky Day!"