|
Memorial Day, May 30, for many Americans, conjures up images of hamburgers, hot dogs, swimming pools, and summertime . But the last Monday in May serves, most importantly, as a time to honor those who died while fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s a holiday steeped in somber American history and tradition. The day actually began as “Decoration Day,” following the Civil War, when mourners placed flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. Yes, Memorial Day has also come to signify the “unofficial” start of summer, but let’s remember the heroes who made it all possible.
The best part? Teaching kids about memorial day can actually be really fun too! It often surprises me how excited kids get when it comes to learning about the flag, service members, and honoring our nation’s greatest heroes.
1) Fly the red, white and blue. If you don’t have an American flag, help the kids make their own flags from construction paper and staple them onto straws for flying. Teach older children how to fly and fold the flag. Remember to fly your flag at half-mast, a position that is reserved for when the country is in mourning.
2) Send a care package to a soldier. Honor those living heroes who risk their lives to protect our country by sending a card or care package to them. AnySoldier.com is a website that helps citizens connect with soldiers who are currently serving. 3) Flowers are a tangible way to pay tribute to those lost. "If they have a family member or friend who died, you can put flowers on the grave,". "If they don't, you can plant flowers in your yard or put one in the window." 4) Though soldiers died, many left family members behind, including children. Non-profits like The Gary Sinise Foundation and America's Gold Star Families help support them. Perhaps you and your family can pool together some money or raise funds with a lemonade stand to send to them. "That's a beautiful way to reach out and do whatever you can do to support these families," 5) Your child knows Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. Every year at 3 p.m., the nation observes a national moment of silence. 6) Decorate your living room and kitchen with patriotic decor. 7) Take treats, books or homemade cards to your local veteran's hospital. (Be sure to check the hospital guidelines for donations.) 8) Teach kids America the Beautiful, the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance, and talk about the meaning behind each one. Teach your kids to stand and place their hands over their hearts during these songs. This is a perfect way to teach kids to honor the sacrifices made to protect our nation’s freedom. 9) If you have a military family in your community, call them! This is especially kind if the military member is deployed. 10) Lincoln is a great Civil War film for older kids and teens (determine if you think it’s appropriate for your children; rated PG-13); and The Red Badge of Courage is appropriate for elementary school kids and up. 11) Wreaths are a fun, simple craft, and these DIY confetti launchers are a lot of fun for kids (and for you, if you’re not the one who’s cleaning up the confetti!). 12) Put strawberries and blueberries (or just blue and red sports drinks or juices!) into your ice cube tray and freeze. Toss them in punch or sparkling water, and voila. 13) Read Books Like Band of Brothers, The Things They Cannot Say, The Things They Carried, The Wall and Memorial Day Surprise are good options depends on your children’s ages. 14) Memorial Day, for all of its celebrations, is, at its core, one of the country’s most somber occasions. Mark it as such with a moment of silence to remember those who’ve lost their lives defending America. 15) Sing a patriotic song. Long gone are the days where children sign the Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful. Teach your children the words and tunes to some of this nation’s favorites.
How will you be spending Memorial Day? Do you have any kid-friendly family traditions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Kids can also benefit from interacting with others while learning new skills, or creating new social networks, like those at Forever Gymnastics! To learn more , click here.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
RSS Feed