Teach Your Children About Martin Luther King, Jr.

This Monday January 21 is celebrated as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday. As children will be home from school, I encourage parents to spend time teaching their children about this icon of the civil rights movement.

To assist you, I have searched the internet and can say that there is an abundance of information about him, but I would like to focus on what is available specifically for children. At the end of this blog is a list of websites where you can find a plethora of information, including books. PBS.org has a list of 17 excellent children books about him and others involved in the movement, such as Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges, a 6 year-old heroine who was the first to integrate a New Orleans school back in 1960. Spend some time with your children going to a book store to purchase a book or to the public library. Once your child has a book, sit down and talk with him about it. Ask questions. This period of time is of such importance in our history. You may even learn something new!

The Today Show just posted on its website an article about helping children to learn about King. Depending on your children’s age groups, there are suggestions as to different types of discussions regarding the various people and issues of the time. Several short videos are also provided on the webpage that share more interesting facts.

Additional recommendations can be found at the website care.com in an informative article about King. Consider having your children participate in an art project or volunteer activity all about King and the movement.

Writer Erin Dower provides principles to talk about with your children in the online article 8 MLK Jr. Values to Instill in Your Kids. I like this article because it gives simple yet profound values taken from King’s life and discusses how children can incorporate these values into their own lives.

There is so much information available about King and the civil rights movement. Please enjoy a relaxing day off on Monday, but also include time to help your children learn more about him and the immense reforms that came about because of his leadership and dedication.

Former President Obama is a Wonderful Role Model for Many Things, Including Being a Reader Who Enjoys Books

Former President Barrack Obama is a true role model. He is a loving husband and father. He enjoys continuing to learn and grow. And, he especially loves to read. During his presidency, he often promoted the importance of reading to students, and would actually take some of his precious time to read to them.

In an interview with the New York Times just days before he stepped down from office, President Obama made it clear that “books were a sustaining source of ideas and inspiration, and gave him a renewed appreciation for the complexities and ambiguities of the human condition.” He especially found enlightening and helpful books by such great men as Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. In fact, he told the reporter that he would often leave his office so that he could read.

Not only is he a reader, but he is also a well-known author. His love of books led him to write in order to encourage others. I truly hope that he continues to promote literacy, especially among our African American and Hispanic young men. If President Obama loves to read, it should be cool for young men to read too. What an impactful message he sends!

To read the entire article, please CLICK HERE.