Happy Black History Month to you and your family. This month is all about celebrating African Americans who have had a significant impact on our country, culture and people. Let’s talk about heroes, inventors, athletes, scientist, and more. Teaching our kids the importance of these people will help them further understand the impact that they can make. I have been disappointed in the school’s efforts, only teaching about, Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass. I want my children to know about more and have a grasp of how these people made positive changes. Over the years I have learned some easy activities and books that help to celebrate Black History Month.
Dress Up To Celebrate Black History Month
Throughout the month make it a point to do a simple 20-30 minute activity with your family to recognize special African Americans. My daughter got a subscription to the Because of Them We Can Box and that has helped a lot to further her knowledge of out people. Each month we receive a box and it has dress up clothes, props, plus information on a particular Black person. You don’t have to have a subscription to do an activity like this. Celebrate Black History Month by picking your favorite person in Black History and have your child dress up and pretend to be them. Getting into the character will help with them remembering facts about that person.
Music in Black History Month
A very easy way to celebrate Black History Month with kids and give them some culture is to listen to music. Think about artists that were hot in a certain era or that repeatedly topped the charts. People often forget that music artist, particularly Black ones, made history. Dance and sing along to different songs, show them the styles in that era and how that artist impacted you. We like to have dance parties at home and making it a little educational will be even better.
Celebrate Black History Month Through Art
So many African American artists have portrayed our culture on a canvas. Some or my favorite Black artists are , Jean-Michel Basquiat, Augusta Savage, Christian Robinson and Vashti Harrison. A very simple Google search will lead you to many more. You can pull up an artist and one of their famed pieces and you and your child try to recreate it. While you are Googling you can pull up a little information on that artist, like when did they get famous or what their childhood was like. Easy conversations to have with a child that will aid in their learning and celebrate Black History Month.
Books to Celebrate Black History Month
African American authors and illustrators are becoming more well known. There is so much representation out there and that makes it easy for us to get our hands on these books. My daughter and I have a few YouTube videos reviewing books by Black authors. Also here is a list of #BlackGirlMagic books and here is a list of books by Black authors. I love reading with my children and the character’s look or have personalities similar to them. That helps them be more engaged with the book and really follow what is going on.
I hope that these are simple ways for you and your family to celebrate Black History Month. But to also be excited and inspired by Black people making the world a little bit better with their creations and work.
