Labor Day is right around the corner, and you may be looking for ways to teach your child about this important holiday as well as have a little fun in the process. Observed on the first Monday of September, Labor Day is typically celebrated with barbecues and parades, and honors the social and economic achievements of American workers.
There are simple, fun ways you can teach your kids about Labor Day while getting crafty at the same time. Check out these Labor Day activities to plan with your kids before summer comes to an end.
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Kids love a good scavenger hunt, and Labor Day is the perfect time to create one. Whether you stop at local community buildings (fire department, police station, post office, etc.) or hunt for red, white and blue items, you’re sure to have fun as you work together to find clues. To start, download this handy Labor Day scavenger hunt list and check each one off as you go. The winner gets a small prize.
Read Books About Labor Day
Learn all about this important American holiday with children’s books that make it all easy to understand. Head to the library to check out some Labor Day-themed books or try this book called “Who Started the Labor Day Celebration?” on Amazon.
Write Thank-You Letters
Because Labor Day celebrates the labor movement in our country, now is the perfect opportunity to thank our country’s hard workers. Write thank-you cards to a dedicated worker in your town that your child admires and then hand deliver or mail it together.
Deliver Goodies
By the same token, consider baking some fresh goodies with your child. Deliver a box or basket of cookies and breads to workers in your community who aren’t as lucky as everyone else to get the holiday weekend off. Your local post office, fire station or police department are all good starts.
Have a Sing-a-Long
Hold a dance party or sing-a-long in the living room to honor our country and all the workers that make it run. Here’s a sample playlist:
- The National Anthem
- “She Works Hard for the Money” (Donna Summer)
- “Working for the Weekend” (Loverboy)
- “Living in America” (James Brown)
- “9 to 5” (Dolly Parton)
- “Caught Up” (John Legend)
- “9 to 5 (Morning Train)” (Sheena Easton)
- “Work It” (Missy Elliott)
- “A Hard Day’s Night” (The Beatles)
- “Work Hard, Play Harder” (Gretchen Wilson)
Make Tie-Dye T-Shirts
Things could get a little messy, but don your kids in their play clothes and try this red, white and blue tie-dye craft together. Once dried, wear your new creations and take a walk around your neighborhood to show off your patriotism. Better yet, wear the shirts to a local parade or barbecue on the holiday itself.
Eat Patriotic Snacks
Put a delicious American spin on typical summer snacks to boost patriotic pride and satisfy empty tummies. Assemble patriotic fruit skewers with banana slices, blueberries, watermelon, and strawberries, then dip the fruit skewers in marshmallow cream. Another idea is to make watermelon popsicles. Cut watermelon into small triangle slices, then pierce an ice pop stick through the rind – all while supervising your kids of course! Serve your treats on blue napkins or paper plates to bring the theme together.
Host a Neighborhood Block Party
One of the most traditional ways to celebrate Labor Day is with a barbecue. Throw a block party for your neighborhood over the holiday weekend. Make it a potluck and ask everyone to bring a patriotic dish to share, or serve typical American BBQ fare such as hot dogs and burgers. During the party, ask the adults to share with the kids what they do for a living and why they love it.
Decorate your yard with balloons and streamers, and encourage the kids to ride their bikes and scooters. Put a donation jar on your porch and then donate the proceeds to your favorite American foundation.
By incorporating all the above fun activities, your kids can appreciate a new meaning of Labor Day that does not always revolve around getting a day off and officially signaling the start of a new school year. Open their minds and give them new ways to celebrate such an iconic American holiday with these fun crafts and activities.
Schedule a Tour With Country Home Learning Center
Here at Country Home Learning Center, we’re always looking for new and fun ways to engage our students. We invite you to come take a tour of our facilities to see what we have to offer and how we keep our little ones busy! Contact us today in San Antonio or Austin and see what makes our learning center so special.