5 Ways To Teach Kids About July 4th
Happy Fourth of July everyone!! Excitedly Eight happens to love history (the apple didn’t fall far from the tree!); however, when we started talking about the 4th of July, I realized that she didn’t know much about it. The truth is that many young children (and maybe a handful of adults too!) don’t know the meaning behind this special holiday. It’s so easy to think that it is just a celebration in the middle of the year with hot picnics, fire works, sparklers, and the colors red-white-and blue. Or maybe they think it’s just a reminder that Christmas is less than 6 months away (as I did when I was a child). Well, here are 5 ways to change that!
- Talk with kids about American ideals. Ask them “What does Independence Day mean?” Many times they will give a simple answer such as “The day America became free!” or they won’t know what to say at all. This is the opportunity for you to give them some great reasons to love their country, on the Fourth and all year round.
- Explain what Independence Day is. Tell them that it is our country’s birthday. On July 4, 1776, our country’s leaders declared independence from Great Britain, meaning they no longer had to do what Great Britain said. At the time, this was extremely dangerous because Great Britain had a huge army and anyone that went against the King was punishable by death. Yet, the American’s fought against Great Britain and won the Revolutionary War, which gave them the freedom to govern themselves.
- Explain the American Flag. Point out a nearby American Flag (there has to one around somewhere… after all it is July 4th!!) and explain the significance of each part of the flag to them. The 50 white stars stand for the 50 states in America. The 13 stripes stand for the 13 British colonies, which declared their independence on July 4, 1776. Explain to them that the American flag is a symbol to the world of our freedom and independence and that each state within America is on the same team. Therefore, we treat the flag with respect.
- Tell them what they can do for their country. America is like family -everyone has to pitch in with the work to keep everything running smoothly. This means that as an American citizens we have certain responsibilities like voting, obeying the law, paying taxes, and going to school. Explain to them how being a good citizen means they should also take care of their country. They can do this by keeping it clean, staying informed about problems America faces, and looking out for people in trouble. They can also do this by volunteering their time at the local homeless shelter or getting involved in other community service projects.
- Explain the difference between America and other countries. Some like to call America the “melting pot.” This is because there are so many different people from all over the world that live in America. Why is this? Because American freedoms have inspired people everywhere to come to this land and pursue their dreams freely. Present examples of other countries such as China or Syria that do not have the same freedoms as Americans do. This may be a good time to discuss your own family history and tell your kids how your ancestors came to America.
I hope these 5 simple guidelines help you instill in kids the great importance of this holiday. Have a wonderful day with friends and family!