Celebrate Black History Month with your kids this February. Spend time with your children learning about the contributions and accomplishments of African-Americans throughout history and today.
How to celebrate
our black leaders
Head to the library
The internet is fantastic, but sometimes it's best to get back to basics with books. Your kids might know about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, but there are many other important people to learn about as well. Head to your local library where your kids can learn about black history leaders, artists, athletes and innovators. Most libraries offer special events during Black History Month with speakers, workshops, films and lectures. Depending on the age of your child, you should be able to find suitable library events.
Read about how to start a sibling reading challenge>>
Take a trip
This February, take a trip to landmarks and attractions celebrating the lives and achievements of African-American leaders. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta is a great place to start, but there are a number of interesting trip ideas for Black History Month:
- Apollo Theater
- Carter's Grove Plantation
- Congo Square
- Emancipation Park
- National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen
- Tribute to the Great Migration
Read about cultural vacation destinations for families>>
Create diversity crafts
Teach your little ones about diversity by cutting out chains of paper dolls and having your kids color them in various shades, or you can create simple puppets out of felt.
Diversity puppets
What you need:
- craft sticks
- craft paint
- felt and yarn in various colors
- craft glue
- markers
- wiggle eyes
What you'll do:
- Paint jumbo craft sticks with peach, light brown, dark brown, etc., colors of paint to create the bodies of the puppets.
- Cut out circles of felt in the above mentioned colors to make the heads. Glue yarn to the felt for hair, and then glue the heads to the sticks.
- Use markers to create the faces, or attach wiggle eyes.
- If you are feeling adventurous, you can create clothing out of felt and attach to the sticks as well.
Celebrate with peanut butter
George Washington Carver was one of the great black inventors, creating a favorite food of kids across the country — peanut butter. Celebrate Black History Month this February with peanut butter. Head to the kitchen where your kids can help prepare peanut butter cookies, candies and other peanut butter recipes.
While you are cooking and baking, talk about the other important black inventors such as Dr. Patricia E. Bath , Oscar E. Brown , J.A. Burr , Alfred L. Cralle , John Lee Love , Dr. Charles Richard Drew , Isaac Johnson , Elijah McCoy , Garrett Morgan and Madame C. J. Walker .
More about black history
Books to celebrate Black History Month
African-American baby names
Women of Black History Month