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By Kim Vij

How to Discuss Memorial Day with Kids

Child blowing bubbles near flag in honor of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, it’s also a time to enjoy the company of family and friends and celebrate our nation’s freedom. Here are some activities for how to discuss Memorial Day with Kids.

Memorial Day Activities for Kids.
Memorial Day Activities for Kids
  • What is Memorial Day?
  • Activity Ideas for Memorial Day for Kids
  • Memorial Day Books for Kids
  • Honor and Pay Tribute on Memorial Day

What is Memorial Day?

When your kids ask, “What is Memorial Day?” be prepared to give them the proper answer. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives in our nation’s service.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed by General John Logan on May 5, 1868 and was observed later that month on May 30 when flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried at Arlington Cemetery.

Memorial day with child by visiting soldiers headstones and leaving american flags.

Memorial Day Activities for Kids

Teaching the meaning of Memorial Day to your children can be a challenge. We want our children to understand why this holiday means so much to our country’s history and our military families.

The simplest thing you can do to honor this holiday with your children is to spend time talking to them about what Memorial Day means to you.

Take the day to talk and reflect on those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Another way is to spend time learning about patriotism and why we celebrate our nation’s freedom. There is a reason why so many have given the ultimate sacrifice… it’s for the honor of our country, The United States of America.

Building a sense of pride is important!

Military.com Shares Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day with Kids

  • Honor and Respect
  • Visit and Pay Tribute
  • Celebrate with a Parade
  • Recognize our Heroes
  • Educate with History
  • Create with Crafts
  • Break Bread Together
  • Make a Soldier’s Day
Patriotic Activities for Kids featuring Red, White and Blue Pinwhell
Patriotic Magnetic Sensory Bottle for Kids
4th of July Snack for Kids with Fruit

Activity Ideas for Memorial Day for Kids

  • Edible Flag Snack 
  • Star Recipe Krispy Treats
  • Patriotic Activities for Kids 
  • Washington DC Virtual Field Trip
  • Water Color an American Flag
  • American Symbols Packet
  • Handprint Flag
  • Handprint and Footprint Flag
  • Patriotic Preschool Pack
  • Flag Craft
  • Medal of Honor
  • Memorial Day Crafts & Worksheets
  • The Real Meaning of Memorial Day
  • Memorial Day Lesson Plans and Activities
  • Red and White Pinwheels
  • Paper Poppies
  • Memorial Day Puzzles for Kids
  • Patriotic Preschool Activities
  • 10 Ways to Encourage Patriotism in Kids 

Memorial Day Books for Kids

There are a few books that we’d recommend including in your Memorial Day lesson plans with your child. Here are our top picks of Memorial Day books for kids…

  • Memorial Day by Emma Carlson Berne
  • F Is for Flag by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
  • Memorial Day by Clara Cella
  • Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Jeff Gottesfeld
  • The Wall by Eve Bunting and Ronald Himler
  • The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans by Barbara E. Walsh
  • America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven
  • Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops by Dr Jill Biden
  • Rolling Thunder by Kate Messner
  • A Day for Rememberin’: Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day by Leah Henderson
  • Memorial Day Surprise by Theresa Martin Golding
  • Why Do We Celebrate Memorial Day? by Kirsten Lake

You may also find this list of books about Veterans useful for Memorial Day with your child.

Placing Memorial Day Flowers at Arlington Cemetery

Honor and Pay Tribute on Memorial Day

We recently had the opportunity to attend the events at Arlington Cemetary on Memorial Day Weekend. If you have a chance to experience this with your family, it’s truly an honor to witness as various branches of the military pay tribute to our fallen soldiers.

My daughter and her Safety Patrol friends on their Washington DC Safety Patrol Trip had the chance to lay flowers at the tombstones are the soldiers. It’s something that moved them very deeply.

Let's go to our nation's capital on this Washington, D.C. Virtual Field Trip for Kids! Get prepared to fully immerse yourself in U.S. History as you explore Washington, D.C.

You can take a Virtual Tour of Arlington Cemetery to learn more about this iconic location.

This long weekend, take a look at what’s available in your local community to honor and pay tribute our soldiers.

How to Discuss Memorial Day with Kids

Do you have a special soldier that you’re remembering today?

Like this idea? Pin for later or share now with a friend!

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Filed Under: Kids Activities Tagged With: 4th of July, America, grade school, Kim, Memorial Day, Patriotism, Preschool

About Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.

« Exploring Food History and Culture with The Traveling Taco
Washington, D.C. Virtual Field Trip for Kids »

Comments

  1. Pennies of Time says

    May 30, 2013 at 11:40 am

    Excellent post and so handy to many ideas in one spot. Thank you! Linking to this in my post on our Memorial Day.

  2. Janet Sedano says

    May 24, 2013 at 9:49 pm

    Thanks for all the great ideas and links. I know my daughter will like the handprint flag. I'll share with you some Memorial Day vocabulary word games that I'm using with my daughter at SpellingCity.com
    http://tinyurl.com/kjkkjjb

  3. Parental Control Software says

    May 30, 2012 at 1:16 am

    Aside from the ideas. I love the pics. I spent my memorial day on the road with my son.

  4. Kim @ The Educators Spin On It says

    May 28, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    Thanks Cristin! Your handprint and footprint flag is adorable, I can't wait to do it with my children for 4th of July and mail it off to their grandparents. Thanks for sharing the idea!

  5. Kim @ The Educators Spin On It says

    May 28, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    Thanks Bethany! I added yours to ours as well!

  6. Cristin says

    May 28, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    Great ideas!
    Thank you for sharing our flag!
    Happy Memorial Day!
    Cristin @ Serendipity

  7. Anonymous says

    May 28, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Neat Idea's. Emily will love making Memorial Day Necklaces…..

  8. Bethany says

    May 28, 2012 at 9:28 am

    You have so many great ideas here. I'm going to add a link to this post to my own Memorial Day post.

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Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing all kinds of easy kid crafts, activities, recipes and even travel ideas for families!
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