Culture

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. with Your Child

 “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

It can be easy to fall into feeling inconvenienced by a holiday like MLK Day. I know for me personally, my children being out of school throws quite a few wrenches into our daily schedule that I tend to lean on for sanity. But, what if we paused today even for just a moment to remember and learn from a man that so fearlessly dared to hope? What if we let our children enter into what this day means in our country and helped them reflect on Martin Luther King’s life as well?

Simple Ways to Help Your Child Understand the Impact of Martin Luther King Jr.

 

  • Read a poem. One I love from Lakeshore learning is simple yet memorable…

We remember MLK,
Honored on this special day.
He had a dream that we would stand
United together in this land,
That we would strive to find a way
To live as friends in peace today.
He wanted each of us to see
The beauty of equality.
He taught that right overcomes wrong,
That hope can turn the weak to strong,
And showing love instead of hate
Would make our country truly great.
His message, meant to set us free,
Was filled with hope for you and me.
So on this day let freedom ring,
As we remember Dr. King!

  • Listen to a song filled with hope. “This Little Light of Mine” and “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” are both good places to start.
  • Create a craft. Don’t overthink it. You could have your child trace their hand, write “I have a Dream” on the wide part of their palm and then fill in the fingers with dreams and hopes they have for our country.
  • Watch a film or read a book that celebrates diversity. On MLK Day and every day, we should be broadening our children’s view of the world by showing them media and literature that features people of color and minority groups.

Until next time,

MaryFran Anderson

Community Engagement Coordinator, mother of two, and guacamole enthusiast

RELEVANT TAGS
  • Culture
  • Fatherhood
  • Holidays at Parkside
  • Motherhood
  • The Parkside Way