Every third Monday in January there is a day set aside to honor and respect the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. For some, especially our children, MLK day can simply pass by as a day off work or school. However, we as parents have the great opportunity to use this holiday to help advance the work and mission set forward by Dr. King. Whether your children are of preschool age or reaching their teens, it is never too early or too late to teach them about the Civil Rights Movement and truly celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ways to Celebrate MLK Day as a Family:
- Books – Sometimes our intentions and words are best conveyed through stories. Colours of Us is an amazing resource for finding multicultural children’s books. Check out this post for 22 children’s books about Martin Luther King Jr spanning from preschool to high school ages.
- Join a virtual celebration – With Covid preventing or limiting space in many in-person celebrations, there are still many opportunities to join a virtual celebration with your family.
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2022 Celebration at Powderhorn Park – Jan 17th @ 10AM. Live stream the family friendly, 2 hour artist showcase featuring storytellers, visual and performing artists.
- National Civil Rights Museum – Jan 17th – Starting at 8 am. King Day – A Virtual Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday.
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- Watch the speech and discuss as a family:
- Questions to ask:
- What are your dreams for our world?
- Why do you think peace was so important to Martin Luther King Jr?
- How can we help to carry on the work of Martin Luther King Jr.?
- Questions to ask:
- Activities for Younger Children: Check out Fun Family Crafts for some excellent craft ideas!
- Volunteer
- Make a bucket list for your family this year listing ways that you can contribute to making this country a better place.
- Americorps is a great place to start to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
How do you and your family plan to celebrate Martin Luther King Day this year? Comment below to share with our community.
“The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King Jr., 1965
