For many, Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer. As a holiday, it’s a time when we relax, have fun, and go shopping. However, it’s important to remember and honor the military men and women who sacrificed their lives in defense of our country. It’s a time to remember the price of freedom. Here are some Memorial Day activities for kids to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Write a Veteran a Letter
It’s difficult for children to understand what it means to be a soldier, especially one who gave their life, so we can enjoy our freedom. Writing a simple letter of thanks to a veteran helps teach children gratitude and will brighten another person’s day.
Donate Flowers
There’s nothing wrong with having cookouts, pool parties, and other activities on Memorial Day but teaching children the reason behind the holiday is important. One way to do that is to donate flowers for soldiers’ graves. Memorial Day Flowers is a foundation that puts a red rose on a soldier’s headstone for a small donation.
If you want to make it more personal, you can make it a tradition to put flowers or an American flag on the grave of a fallen family member or friend to remember their sacrifice.
Support a Veteran Owned Business
Nearly every city has businesses owned and operated by veterans. If you plan to eat a meal out, consider going to a veteran-owned restaurant instead of a corporate place.
Attend a Memorial Day Parade
Most towns and neighborhoods have Memorial Day parades or events, which are fun for everyone in the family. Kids love watching the marching bands, the fire trucks, and the excitement. If your area doesn’t have a parade, consider getting the kids in the neighborhood to decorate their bikes in red, white, and blue and having a bike parade.
Plan a Backyard Cookout with Friends
Sure, Memorial Day is about honoring our fallen soldiers, but it’s also a long weekend where families and friends can relax and have fun together. Even though it’s not officially summer yet, Memorial Day (weather permitting) is the perfect time to break out the grill and have a cookout. And it doesn’t have to be complicated; some burgers, hot dogs, and seasonal fresh produce are enough to make everyone happy.
Make Patriotic Decor
If you’re planning a backyard cookout with friends, get the kids together and make some patriotic decor to get everyone in the spirit! It can be as simple as blowing up red, white, and blue balloons or making your own confetti cannon. We love USA themed coloring tablecloths!
Perfect for the backyard BBQ or an indoor rainy day!
Play Games Outside
If you’re having a cookout, why not play some outdoor games? There are many fun backyard games to try, like corn hole, stomp rockets, ring toss, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, tug of war, and hide-and-seek, to name a few.
Have Dinner and a Movie
What better way to spend a family evening together than having a movie and pizza night? If you want to stay with the Memorial Day theme, there aren’t many movies about veterans or war that are safe for all ages, but a few come to mind, such as Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Operation Dumbo Drop, and Valiant.
We hope you have a fun, safe, and reflective Memorial Day holiday, and while nobody wants to think about going back to school when summer starts, now is the time to plan to enroll your child in a VPK.
