Juneteenth is celebrated each year on June 19th, and it’s a day that honors the end of slavery in the United States. On this day in 1865, slaves in Texas learned they were finally free, even though this was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. No matter our ethnicity, this is our actual national history, and there are ways we can each recognize the events of Juneteenth in an appropriate way. For those of us with young children, Juneteenth can be an opportunity to teach positive values like freedom and fairness in ways that are age-appropriate and character building. So let’s look at a few simple ways to honor freedom for all with our preschoolers this Juneteenth.
Tell the Story in a Simple Way
Our little ones are right at the beginning stages of learning about their world. So let’s talk about big concepts like history and justice in a really simple way. We could talk about how a long time ago, not everyone in our country was free. How deeply you decide to go into this is of course, up to you. It depends on our kids’ ages, levels of understanding, and personal connection to this piece of history.
As in any historical celebration, picture books can help make this easier to understand. Here are a few suggestions:
- “Juneteenth for Mazie” by Floyd Cooper
- “The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States” by Alliah L. Agostini
- “All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom” by Angela Johnson
And of course, if you find these at your library, they will be surrounded by similar books that could be great too.
Read Books that Celebrate African American Culture
It’s always good for kids to read books about multiple cultures. It’s a way to help them understand that there is a whole world outside of their own little life. So whether you include these books in your Juneteenth celebration, or you decide to read them later, they are still worth reading. These books can help our non-African American children connect with others’ experiences and celebrate diversity:
- “Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry
- “I Am Every Good Thing” by Derrick Barnes
- “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats
While we’re on the subject of reading books about other cultures, check out the book Give Your Child the World by Jamie C. Martin. It’s filled with book recommendations for kids of all ages, and it works its way around the world. It’s a great tool for helping our kids understand and celebrate diversity.
As we read books about other people’s experiences, it opens up conversations with our kids. We can talk about how those people must have felt in their situations. Or we can ask our kids about what feelings they have after reading these books. These are also simple ways to honor freedom for all with our preschoolers.
Celebrate with Music and Movement
Preschoolers naturally connect with rhythm and movement. So put on some joyful music and dance together. Or have a freedom parade around your home. Music is one of the simple ways to honor freedom for all, as it allows all kinds of expression and feeling. You and your little one could clap to the beat and talk about how music helps people to feel strong and happy. Music is a universal language, and it’s a fun way to celebrate and connect with other people.
Attend a Community Event
If your area hosts a Juneteenth festival, parade, or some type of gathering, see if you can attend. Even a short visit to a story time, an event, or a music program can make the day feel special. And seeing people celebrate together is a powerful memory for young children. To find out what’s happening, check your local library, a community center, or your city’s website to see what’s happening nearby.
Encourage Everyday Kindness and Inclusion
If you’ve been around Signing Time for any period of time, you know that kindness and inclusion are two of our key values. Let’s recognize that Juneteenth is about more than this one day. It’s a reminder to stand up for fairness and to treat everyone with respect and kindness. Preschoolers are pretty good at understanding kindness and friendship. So let’s encourage this behavior to grow as they grow.
We parents can help build these values by modeling them ourselves. While we all know this, it can be a challenge in today’s world, where it seems like we are becoming more and more polarized. So let’s really be intentional about talking about people in a positive and curious way instead of a critical way. Let’s be welcoming to anyone, even those we don’t have a lot in common with. These behaviors in us as parents will encourage our children to be a good friend to anyone as well.
Let’s remember that it really is the everyday moments that shape our children’s understanding of justice and freedom for all. So as you think about what your kids are watching, consider My Signing Time. Our shows offer a variety of educational topics, and even languages, in a safe and ad-free platform. And all of our shows highlight kindness and inclusion. It’s important to us at My Signing Time.
Juneteenth is a beautiful time to celebrate freedom, culture, and community. And remember, with young children, it’s not necessarily about a history lesson. Instead, it’s about creating simple ways to honor freedom for all with our preschoolers. Let’s use this opportunity to plant seeds of understanding, kindness, and fairness in our children.