It may surprise some adults to know that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which has been officially celebrated as a federal holiday since 1986, was not officially recognized in all 50 U.S. states until 2000. While some cities and states have MLK Day parades and events, others do little or nothing to commemorate the occasion. No matter what Martin Luther King Day activities take place where you live, there are several easy ways to introduce this holiday, and more importantly the legendary man it honors, to your preschooler.
Martin Luther King Coloring Pages
One of the easiest ways to introduce your preschooler to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is with coloring pages. There are several websites that offer free Martin Luther King coloring pages, such as TeacherVision, The Color and Activity Village. Print out your favorites, get your child's crayons or markers, sit down and color with him.
While you're coloring, talking about Dr. King, who he was and what he wanted. For instance, an appropriate thing to say is “Dr. King wanted everyone in the world to be treated as equals.” Such a statement will surely prompt your preschooler to ask questions, such as “What's is 'equals'?”, “How old is Dr. King?”, and “Why does he have a special day?” Talking while coloring pictures related to Dr. King is an ideal way to teach your kids and spend time with them.
Martin Luther King Books
Most preschoolers have a fascination with books--they love looking at them and being read to. Fortunately, there are many great books available about Martin Luther King that were specifically written for preschool-age children. Such titles include: " Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. " by Doreen Rappaport; "Martin Luther King, Jr." by Marion Dane Bauer; " A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. " by David A. Adler; "The Story of Martin Luther King Jr." by Johnny Ray Moore.
As with the coloring page activity, be prepared for your child to ask questions about what you're reading. In turn, you can ask your preschooler what her favorite thing about the book was, and whether she thinks Dr. King's accomplishments were beneficial to our country, and our world. Of course, you should phrase anything you ask in as simplistic a manner as possible. For example, ask your child, “Do you think Martin Luther King did good things for people?”
Martin Luther King Day Posters
If your preschool-age child is a fan of arts and crafts, you can help him make a Martin Luther King Day poster. Choose either the theme of equality or peace. Gather a large piece of paper or poster board, paints, or markers and crayons. Tell your child what peace or equality is, in an easy-to-understand way.
For instance, you can explain that peace is when people get along and don't fight, and that equality means no one is treated differently than anyone else. Ensure you tie these terms together with Dr. King's dreams for our country. Ask your child what she thinks about these concepts, and help her think of things that remind her of peace or equality. Draw or paint these symbols on the poster, and hang it wherever you prefer.
Though your preschooler can learn the intricate details of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr'.s life once he is a bit older, it is never too early to introduce your child to this historical figure in American history.
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