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.
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 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
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
You may also find this list of books about Veterans useful for Memorial Day with your child.
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.
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.
Do you have a special soldier that you’re remembering today?
Excellent post and so handy to many ideas in one spot. Thank you! Linking to this in my post on our Memorial Day.
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
Aside from the ideas. I love the pics. I spent my memorial day on the road with my son.
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!
Thanks Bethany! I added yours to ours as well!
Great ideas!
Thank you for sharing our flag!
Happy Memorial Day!
Cristin @ Serendipity
Neat Idea's. Emily will love making Memorial Day Necklaces…..
You have so many great ideas here. I'm going to add a link to this post to my own Memorial Day post.