Children learning about special national events
While we celebrate National Days such as the recent ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ every November and ๐๐ง๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ in April, how much history do we reveal to our children?
Schools celebrate these days, as does the community, so, not only is it important to pass on the legacy or remembering to our children,but it's essential to give them a sound understanding of the day.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ.
How do you explain National Days to your children?
Across the year we celebrate several important events in our countryโs calendars. Some of course have considerable sentiment that is felt by many across the nation such as Anzac Day, Remembrance Day.
Children read parentโs emotional state and their sincerity very well. Particularly around events that touch the soul. Let us call this generational lessons where we bring them in to acknowledging events such as Remembrance day.
What we pass on is an awareness of how important it is to remember, even though we may not have been personally touched by the drama that led to the celebration. This is about building national pride in what is a nationโs tapestry of celebrations depicting important events that are imprinted in our ever evolving culture.
Do we have a responsibility to pass on the message of these celebrations? I would argue yes, as we owe it to our children to understand the journey of our country and to invite them to take ownership of it when they are adults.
Schools are conscious to celebrate these important events and often common signs and symbols are used to depict the Day. For example, we wear a red poppy on November 11th to depict World War one.
Here are some tips on how to gradually raise awareness of these national events that occur across the year.
Have a family diary and together write in days to celebrate across the year.
When the day approaches, find relevant and age appropriate books to read to the children. As the child grows older, often articles in the newspaper cover the subject well.
Take the children to any public events that may be celebrating the day. For example, a trip to the war memorial around Anzac Day is really memorable.
Together as a family watch on television various marches and parades that tell a tale about the day.
Talk about particular symbols and what they mean. For example, what is a one minute silence all about?
Why do we see Anzac biscuits on sale around Anzac Day?
Invite the child to write their feelings about the day and what it means to them.
Children love symbols. Purchase items such as poppies to wear on the day. They easily can identify with symbols that tell a story.
Check in with what the school is doing to celebrate the event. Often homework set is all about understanding the significance of the day.
Sometimes younger children become confused when they hear the word, celebration. After all is it not a sad day upon which we reflect? This will need some explanation as a parent. We remind them that we celebrate the memory of the day which we hope to keep alive each year in our heart and mind.
As the words say on Anzac Day:
โLest we forget.โ
As a parent you are passing on the legacy of not forgetting.