Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
It is Freedom Day!
However, freedom is a difficult concept to explain to children. We’ve put together a few activities to help kids recognize the past, appreciate the present and take control of their futures.
Juneteenth is the ideal opportunity to instill pride in their heritage. Black Americans have long made great contributions. With the idea of Freedom in mind, introduce Americans who were able to be recognized for their talents because they were free.
Below are a few age-appropriate videos:
Blacksmith, Charles Richard Patterson, was a former slave who escaped captivity in Virginia. He then settled in Ohio where he worked in various local horse-drawn carriage companies. He used his skills to eventually own a carriage company that evolved into a horseless carriage company and through three generations, of Pattersons, a bus manufacturing company. Three generations of Patterson left their mark on American history. SEE KIDS VIDEO HERE
Texas cowboy Robert Lemmons gained his freedom at the end of the Civil War. No other cowboy equaled Lemmons in capturing mustangs. During his life, Robert Lemmons had amassed a 1,200 acres ranch and impressive holdings of horses and cattle. He was well known for helping neighbors during the Great Depression. SEE KIDS VIDEO HERE
Also introduce the “Father of Ice Cream,” Augustus Jackson and accomplishments of other free pre-civil war blacks. SEE KIDS VIDEO HERE
We also have a short video to get your Juneteenth celebration started.
As a quick activity, make Freedom flag pencil crafts. Wave the flags at your local Juneteenth celebrations or the kids can put on their own Juneteenth parade right at home. All you need is to print the Juneteenth Flag Printable, scissors, and glue.
Next, talk to your little ones about what freedom means. Bring the concept to their level. Explain how freedom is the ability to be with the people we love, and do the things they want to do. Ask them who is important in their lives. Find out their favorite foods, places to go and even personal items. Express that they are able to experience these 
life pleasures because they are free.
Use this discussion as an introduction to the next activity, creating an appreciation tree. Cut out the free printable tree trunk and leaves (Printable 1, Printable 2, Printable 3, Printable 4). Write one thing they are grateful for on each leaf with a white marker, crayon or colored pencil. They can also draw pictures to express their thoughts. To assemble the tree, glue the parts to a large piece of poster board or display on your refrigerator using magnetic tape. Display the artwork as a daily reminder of what we have to appreciate.
We think a way to round out a Juneteenth celebration is to plan and achieve the future of our creation. One way to do this is to teach children about goal setting and achievement. Ask your kids what they would like to accomplish. A simple way is to ask them what they wish they could do. Agree on a doable goal, such as tying their own shoes. Then create simple steps they can accomplish to reach those goals. Attached is a free I WISH Goal printable. Fill out the worksheet and check off each step as it is completed. When your child completes the final step, make it a big deal. Make ice cream sundaes or do something special to celebrate their achievement. Not only will they learn a capable mindset but they will also learn the skills to reach small and larger goals in the future.
Recognize the past, celebrate the present, and create a bright future.
Happy Juneteenth!
