“The time is always right to do what is right.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quote still rings true decades later. Although we have heard the words of this visionary year-after-year, it can be difficult to convey the true meaning behind them and all Dr. King did for our country to our children.
Here are a few ways you can introduce your kids to Dr. King and to the ideas he put into action so many years ago.
1. Learn about his life
Educents put together a great summary of Dr. King’s life that includes some fun facts that will give your children a glimpse into what life was like for the Civil Rights leader. It will open the discussion about civil rights, peaceful protesting, and many other important topics.
2. Talk about how kids can make a difference
My six-year-old has been learning about Dr. King in school, and has been asking a lot of questions about how we can change negative things in our world. I found this “How would you change the world?” activity from No Time for Flashcards.
We made a list of all of the things she could do and what we could do as a family to make a difference in our world. Not only did the activity allow us to talk through some practical solutions, but it also helped us create some artwork that will serve as a reminder of our discussion throughout the year.
3. Show kindness to others
One of Dr. King’s most important legacies was showing kindness to others and finding ways to serve them. There are so many small ways that children (and their parents) can show kindness to others that doesn’t require a lot of effort or money.
Coffee Cups and Crayons put together a list of 100 Acts of Kindness for Kids that will help your children think of practical ways to help their fellow man. Some of the items on the list include leaving happy notes around town, picking up litter or baking dessert for a neighbor.
There are so many things our children can learn from the example of Dr. King and those like him. It’s our job as parents to instill these values into the next generation so that change can continue to take place.
Jessa is the Editor-in-Chief of Hooray for Family and the mom of three energetic children. She has a BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and is a long-time resident of Central Texas. When she isn't writing and editing, she enjoys playing board games with her kids, teaching Sunday school and channeling her creativity into craft projects.
