Teach your kids the meaning of America’s Birthday!
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This 4th of July, let your kids know why our nation’s birthday is such a special day. Here are some recommended stories and activities for teaching your kids the true meaning of the holiday. The Associated Press has the story:
Ideas for Teaching Kids the Meaning of July 4th
America traditionally celebrates its birthday with flags, fireworks, parades and barbecues, so how are children going to get the real meaning behind Independence Day?
Lots of ways. Try some of these:
Start a conversation
For younger children, describe July Fourth as the nation’s birthday, said Mary Eames Ucci, education director of the Wellesley College Child Study Center. Tell them the parade, fireworks and hot dogs are for the celebration.
“As children get older, they can begin to understand what independence means,” she said. “When you become independent, you get a lot of freedom but you also get a lot of responsibility.”
Make it an annual ritual for kids spend a few minutes thinking about and then discussing the contributions they want to make to their country — and to the world, said Debra Condren, a psychologist and mom.
“Help them come up with age-appropriate ideas for short-term, intermediate and long-term ways they can give back to and carry on the cause championed by those courageous leaders who originally fought for our independence,” she said …
Read all about it
There are many wonderful children’s books about the Fourth of July, said Amy McClure, professor of children’s literature at Ohio Wesleyan University.
She recommends “The Story of America’s Birthday” by Patricia A. Pringy for babies to preschoolers, and “O, Say Can You See? America’s Symbols, Landmarks, And Important Words” by Sheila Keenan for kids ages 4 to 8.
“Any opportunity parents can have to engage children in reading over the summer can only benefit children,” McClure said. “You can make reading relevant and connect it to an exciting event in their lives.”
Turn kids into patriots
Tell kids they can have a party, said Jen Singer of MommaSaid.net, an online community for moms. Let them plan the day’s events, allowing them to get excited about the party.
But then impose rules, such as they can only eat carrots — no ice cream — and they can only play inside. When they get upset about the rules, explain that’s how the patriots felt when England made rules and imposed taxes on Americans …
Do an activity together
Make a quill pen by shaping a point at the end of a clean feather and dipping it into a bottle of ink, Miller said. It will give kids an idea of what the Declaration of Independence was written with — and kids like the scratching noise, she said.
They can also make hasty pudding, which was a staple in the 18th century and mentioned in the song “Yankee Doodle.” Other activities include designing a recruiting poster for Washington’s army, learning to dance a minuet, an 18th-century dance; and creating banners or flags with stars and stripes.
Let your child send e-cards to family members passing along a fact about July Fourth. Have them start a journal of what they do for the holiday each year, said James Heintze, a librarian emeritus at American University.
And most of all, have a happy, healthy 4th of July!
This weekend, my 12-year old daughter and her friends are hosting a surprise birthday sleepover for one of their friends whose mother lost her very short battle with lung cancer this past July. Each year, her Mom would have a huge sleepover birthday party for her which all the girls looked forward to. This will be the first birthday she will have without her Mom and it will probably be difficult for her and her Dad and brothers.
