Memorial Day is more than just a day off from school. Experts share age-appropriate ways to help your kids understand what Memorial Day celebrates and why it's so important.
Memorial Day tends to mean "fun" to children. They get a day off from school. Some families have barbecues, head to the beach, or go on a vacation.
But Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May (this year on May 30), has a more somber meaning. The federal holiday is a way to honor military members who died in the line of duty. Experts say it's a good idea to explain the significance of Memorial Day to kids.
"It's important for them to understand that we aren't just taking a day off from school. "The people we are honoring were moms, dads, brothers, and sisters, just like we are."
But explaining Memorial Day requires delving into difficult topics like death. "Parents shy away from that because they think it will scare them, but it doesn't," "Kids are afraid of what they don't understand. If they understand something, it empowers them."
Here are age-appropriate ways to explain Memorial Day to your kids and ways families can recognize the day.
What Is Memorial Day?
First, experts note the term "age-appropriate" is relative. Certain children may be able to grasp more information than others, and some may know more about Memorial Day than you think.
How do you know where your kid is? Easy: Ask.
"Ask, 'What do you know about this day?'" Many of them are in school…and some schools are more transparent about how they share holidays than others.
Generally speaking, Adults can be more straightforward with teens about the meaning of Memorial Day. You can simply say that it's a day to honor U.S. military members who died in the line of duty. "Go ahead and use those terms because they know what they mean.
But kids ages 3 to 7 probably don't have context. They'll likely need parents to explain the meaning of Memorial Day in simpler terms. Defining the word "memorial" helps give kids a foundation to grasp what "Memorial Day" means. They suggest using the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary, which provides clear and concise definitions. It defines "memorial" as "something (such as a monument or ceremony) that honors a person who has died or serves as a reminder of an event in which many people have died."
After reading this definition to your child, give them an example of a memorial they've seen before to help them understand. "If there is a monument in a local park, point that out," "Maybe they have a rock in the backyard that remembers a pet who died. That's a memorial, too."
Then, bring the conversation full circle. "Tell them, 'On Memorial Day, we honor, which really means to celebrate and remember, the Americans who died in wars…America chose to fight in. Some people chose to fight for our county. They died in the war, and we remember them,"
And you can expand on the topic of Memorial Day with kids ages 7 to 12 who may be interested in and able to grasp the history of the holiday.
What Does Memorial Day Celebrate?
Memorial Day started as Decoration Day in the 1860s to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War. Some children may not have learned about the Civil War. Ask your child if they have. If they have not, they suggest telling them a civil war occurs "between groups of people in the same country. In America, that was between the north part of the country and the south part of the country."
You can continue with something like, "Family members used to go to the graves of their family members…who died in the war and decorated them with flowers. Maybe they drew a picture."
It's OK to also let the child know that more conflicts happened, like World War I and World War II. "You can say, '[Those wars] happened between so many people, and so many soldiers died. We changed it from Decoration Day to Memorial Day so we could honor more soldiers and not just those who died in the Civil War.
At first, Memorial Day always fell on May 30. But Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968, establishing the holiday would always fall on the last Monday in May. It became a federal holiday in 1971 under President Richard Nixon.
Always make sure to reinforce the meaning of the holiday at the end of the discussion. Say, 'Today, we take a day on the last Monday in May to pause and do something special to remember them.
Memorial Day Traditions to Start With Your Kids
Aside from an annual barbecue, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Memorial Day with your kids that tie back to the meaning of the holiday. Here are a few ideas.
Take a moment
Your child knows Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. Every year at 3 p.m., the nation observes a national moment of silence. "I set my phone and make sure they are nearby so we can have that moment together.
Lay (or grow) flowers
Flowers are a tangible way to pay tribute to those lost. If they have a family member or friend who died, you can put flowers on the grave. If they don't, you can plant flowers in your yard or put one in the window.
Show support
Though soldiers died, many left family members behind, including children. Non-profits like The Gary Sinise Foundation and America's Gold Star Families help support them. Perhaps you and your family can pool together some money or raise funds with a lemonade stand to send to them. That's a beautiful way to reach out and do whatever you can do to support these families.
Get crafty
You may already have a flag to put outside your home. But if your kid loves arts and crafts, We recommend making an extra one and displaying it, perhaps at your family picnic.
Reuse an Amazon box or get a piece of cardboard. "Paint it white, and put a blue square in the corner. Use red and white pipe cleaners to make the stripes and cotton balls for the stars.
Head to your local parade (or DIY)
Depending on where you live, Memorial Day parades may be back this year. It can be fun to attend it if you're comfortable.
If there won't be a parade in your town this year or large crowds still aren't your thing, that's OK. You can make your own parade with family or friends, You can have toy drums or play another instrument.
