February is Black History Month, and it’s a key time to recognize the unique contributions of Black culture, Black history, and the perseverance of people across the country. Wondering how you can teach your kids about Black History Month? Here are some fun and engaging ideas or activities that help them learn and connect with Black Americans – both now and into the future.
Connect Black History Month with hobbies or other interests.
Does your child love to read? Maybe they are budding artists or are gifted in basketball, football, or music. Match their interests or hobbies with people in the Black community who are making a difference in the world. Look up photos of that person, read about what they have done throughout their life, listen to their music, read their books, or watch a sports game that they’re playing in. Let your children dive deep into research on that specific person. This not only teaches them some history but could also inspire them to reach their own goals and dreams.
Plan a special outing or field trip.
There are lots of museums and historic sites for children to visit and learn more about Black History Month. Local libraries or other non-profit organizations may also be hosting events, concerts, poetry readings, or other things that are a great way to introduce children to new things related to Black history or culture. If there aren’t places you can visit locally, consider virtual field trips to other museums or exhibits that can be done online. There are different ‘free field trip’ options in different states that are fun not only for kids, but adults too! When the outing or field trip is done, spend some time talking about what they learned, how they felt, and how they can take that knowledge and put it into action.
Get creative with some crafts.
There is never a shortage of crafts out there, but for Black History Month, consider focusing your craft times on why diversity is important and what’s special about our differences. One fun craft idea is to cut out your child’s hands, have them color them and write out their own dreams and hopes for the world. You could also have them research different quotes or statements from Black leaders and have them write those on the hand cut outs, then connect them into a long banner to hang up in a playroom, their bedroom, or a craft room. Coloring sheets are also great. Find some coloring sheets of historical figures and as they color and decorate the page, read to them about that person’s story or experiences and ask questions at the end about what they learned or what they were most surprised about.
February is a great time for parents and caregivers to help their children develop diverse perspectives. Giving them the opportunity to learn and celebrate new cultures is one of the best ways to create a well-rounded, compassionate and loving human being that will someday, do their part to change the world.