If you ask a child what Memorial Day is all about, the most likely answer you’ll get is, “That’s the day the pool opens.”
Research shows that many children are growing up without ever having much understanding of the significance of Memorial Day beyond this highly anticipated first splash in the pool.
A study commissioned by the National WWII Museum revealed that 80% of the adult respondents had only “little” or “some” knowledge of the day and its purpose.
A 2000 Gallup poll showed that only 28% of the people knew the true significance of Memorial Day, that is to honor those who have died in a war. Another 40% believed the day was for remembering and honoring all veterans.
To put your child ahead of most adults, take a few minutes away from the barbecue and beach towels and talk with her about the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Here are a few ideas of how you can approach it to make the discussion meaningful and interesting for your child.
A Day of Gratitude
Talk to your children about this day honoring those who went to work and never came home. Many of them had children just like your kids.
Those we honor on this day won’t be home with their kids to eat potato salad and enjoy the summer sun.
A quick online search will reveal personal and specific stories of real people that you can share with your child to help him understand the true impact of losing a loved one to war.
Try not to be a complete downer here, but let’s face it, the significance of the holiday is a grim one.
We obviously don’t want the kids to sit around crying all day, so approach it from a perspective of gratitude.
Talk about being grateful for all of your child's friends and family members and the fact that they are safe and present at today’s celebrations.
Take a few minutes to be grateful for those who served and lost their lives in war.
Do this even if you are a person who does not believe in the conflicts we send our soldiers into.
The politics of war make this an increasingly tough and touchy subject, but remember the purpose of the day, and that the fallen solider didn’t choose or maybe even support the battle.
She just showed up to do the job she committed to do in the name of serving her country, and for that we can all be grateful.
What it Takes and Means to Be a Soldier
Whether you’d ever want your child to be in the military, there are many characteristics instilled by military service that are valuable assets for all humans.
Talk with your child about the discipline and commitment it takes to sign up for military service and complete the necessary training to serve in the soldier’s area of interest and expertise.
In this sense, military service mirrors other areas of life that require discipline and commitment to be successful.
Another trait of the soldier is courage, as from the moment they sign on, soldiers often go into situations not knowing what to expect and having to trust themselves and learn as they go.
Again this mirrors civilian life, especially for kids, when trying new and different things can be scary and uncomfortable.
Being a soldier also means learning teamwork, as everyone has their speciality and must learn to work with and rely on other team members to complete any mission.
Teamwork will always take you further than you can go alone in life.
Use this opportunity to talk with your child about the importance of concentrating on his strengths and interests, and not worrying about the things he may not be the best at.
It’s impossible, and completely unnecessary, to be good at everything. And if you learn how to work well with others, you’ll be more successful just concentrating on what you love anyway.
These are just a few characteristics to get you started. Think about what personally appeals to you and draw the comparison between being a soldier and any aspect of life to share some easy personal development lessons with your child today.
The Beauty of Living in a Free Country
Again this can be a tricky one because there are a variety of beliefs about the purpose of military involvement in different wars these days, but don’t let this fact keep you from discussing the beauty of living in a free country with you child.
The very fact that we can openly criticize any and everything our government does is a big advantage of life in the U.S.A. that many children don’t even realize since we completely take it for granted.
Talk to your child about the fact that not everyone enjoys the right to free speech, the right to vote, to publicly assemble, and pursue any job or business venture you want.
At some point anyway, these freedoms are all things that had to be fought to gain or keep.
National Moment of Remembrance Act
Possibly in response to the 2000 Gallup poll revealing only 28% of Americans got the true meaning of Memorial Day, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act that same year.
The Act calls for everyone to take one minute at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day and stop everything. Use this minute to honor the men and women who have died in service to their country.
Many organizations participate in this minute, including Major League Baseball halting all games for one minute, Amtrak trains blowing their whistles, and bugles across the country playing Taps. If you are driving at the time, turning your headlights on is a common sign of remembrance.
Whatever discussion you decide to have with your child, participating in the National Moment of Remembrance is a nice way to take action on that conversation.
Happy Memorial Day
Despite is sad underpinnings, Memorial Day is a time for celebration and appreciation of life and country, not for mourning death.
At KidsPartyCharacters.com, owner Cheryl Jacobs and all the team wish you and your family a safe and happy Memorial Day, and we can’t wait to see you at your child’s next party!
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