Memorial Day is all about grilling burgers, eating red, white and blue cupcakes and hanging out with family, right? Well, actually there is a LOT more to Memorial Day than family get gatherings and delicious Memorial Day food. Some people will spend the weekend decorating graves for all of their deceased loved ones. Most children today don’t have a clue why Memorial Day is even celebrated. Find out how to teach your kids the true meaning of Memorial Day!
Teach Your Kids the True Meaning of Memorial Day
Remembering Those Who Died in Service of the USA
Despite the fact that most Americans take Memorial weekend to remember ANYONE who has died…..the actual reason for Memorial Day is to remember those who died in service to the United States of America.
It is important to teach our children the REAL reason we celebrate and how important it is to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice…their lives. So while it is fine to decorate graves for relatives and friends, it is extra important to take a moment to remember the heroes that have represented out country.
History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day was originally called Decorations Day. It all came about after the Civil War as a way to honor those killed during the war. Decorations Day was set aside for people to specifically decorate the graves of those who had died fighting in the war.
New York was the first state to recognize Memorial Day in 1873. All of the northern states had adopted Memorial Day as a holiday by 1890. It took until after World War 1 for the southern states to start observing Memorial Day. Memorial Day was officially made a national holiday in 1971.
How to Make Memorial Day Meaningful for Children
You need to teach your kids the true meaning of Memorial Day. It is also good to try and make it meaningful to them. There are some easy ways to make Memorial Day meaningful for children.
Visit your local cemetery and put flags or flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers.
- Write thank you notes to someone you know who currently serves in the military.
- Do some Memorial Day crafts and talk to your kids about the meaning behind the holiday.
- Talk to your kids about what our soldiers fight to protect. Tell them about children in other countries who may not have the right to go to school, church, demonstrate, etc.
- Attend a local Memorial Day parade as a family.
Thanks For Your Service Free Printable
Here is a way to get you started in making Memorial Day meaningful for children. Download this Thanks for Your Service free printable to help your children write a note to someone serving in the military currently or even for a Veteran. This is a simple project and it will be meaningful to everyone involved.
Fill in the form below to download the Thank You For Your Service free printable today.
How Do You Teach Your Children The True Meaning of Memorial Day?
Have you talked to your kids about the true meaning of Memorial Day? What is your favorite method for teaching them about this important holiday?
Printable FAQs
Fill in the form above. After you submit the form, you’ll receive an email from “Wondermom Wannabe” with a direct link to the printable. If you do not see the email in your inbox within a few minutes, check your spam folder.
The most likely place will be in your computer’s Downloads folder. You can also select “Downloads” in your browser menu to see a list of your downloads, then simply select “Show in folder” below the file name to see where it is stored on your computer.
You’ll need a program that supports PDFS, like Adobe Acrobat (which is free). Open the program, click File > Print. Select your printer and set the number of copies you want to print. Double check your print preview, then click print.
About the Author
Jamie is a busy married, mother of four sharing her recipes, crafts, and ideas at Life Is Sweeter By Design.
“I am working hard to recapture the joy in life through the little things! I love to cook, craft, create and enjoy life with my family. I am working hard to recapture the joy in life through the little things! I love to cook, craft, create and enjoy life with my family.” – Jamie Yonash
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