Part of motherhood is talking to our children and teaching them about the world around them. While they do go to school to learn, a lot of learning happens at home and mom is often their most influential and important teacher. It can be our job to teach them about what they hear in the news, why things are the way they are and mom may even find herself giving a history lesson or two. This can be a lot of pressure on mom, who may need to brush up on her own awareness to provide accurate and sensitive information.
This is hard because there are some conversations that may be difficult to have with children. Issues surrounding politics, race, and discrimination can all be difficult conversations, but they are important to have as future generations grow to be welcoming and loving citizens.
According to CTV News, the US Senate passed a bill that would make “Juneteenth” a federal holiday, and this is the day to commemorate the end of slavery in the US.
Since this bill was expected to pass the House easily, and then land on President Joe Biden’s desk. It became clear that this was going to become a federal holiday, which meant that now (more than ever) we need to talk to our children about what this day means.
What Is “Juneteenth?”
In order to make sure we are providing accurate information to our children; we need to make sure that we understand the significance of this holiday and what it stems from.
According to PBS, Juneteenth is a celebration of the date June 19th, 1865. This is the date when orders from the General in Texas declared that all slaves were now free. At this time, the men who were slaves were told that they could stay in their present homes, but they would now be working for a wage. This order came from President Lincoln, who had passed before this date. With Texas freeing the slaves, it brought an end to slavery, as they were the last state to abolish slavery, two years after the emancipation proclamation.
In 1979, the state of Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth a holiday, but it is now a federal holiday.
How To Talk To Your Kids About It
Topics about slavery and race are difficult for a lot of parents, but they are important and there are ways to make this conversation a little easier on mom.
Young children
According to ABC 7, the best way to talk about this with younger children, like preschoolers, is to bring up the basic emotions involved. While a young child may not developmentally understand “slavery” and “slaves,” they will understand concepts like “fair” and “unfair,” and this can lead the conversation on how slaves were not treated “fairly.”
School-aged kids
If children are in school, they may be receiving an introduction to this holiday already. Ask your child what they know about the date, from school, friends, or the media. Build off of what they already know about the day and help to fill in the gaps. It could be a great opportunity to get on the computer together and learn about it as a journey. You can ask each other questions and really learn together.
Resources
Another great way to connect with children when it comes to teaching them about difficult subjects is to use resources to your advantage.
According to USA Today, there are some great books out there that can help you explore this topic with your children. Books like All Different Now; Juneteenth, The First Day Of Freedom, Juneteenth Jamboree, and Black History for Beginners are all great resources to share with your children.
How To Celebrate
If you want to make this a celebration for your children, to learn in a more symbolic and “fun” way, there are no shortages of things mom can do with her family.
According to Indy’s Child, red foods are a historic symbol of the resilience and ingenuity of enslaved people. Eat foods that are red that day, and let your children help you plan and prepare the foods. Encourage conversations about Juneteenth and the importance of the day while you are enjoying some great treats.
If your child is more into crafts and creativity, make some flags. Do some research into where enslaved individuals came from and make some of their home country flags to celebrate their life and culture. Learn about their home countries and the culture that lives there. Hanging up the flags can be a great way to honor and celebrate all the individuals who were part of slavery in the US.
Sources: CTV News, PBS, ABC 7, USA Today, Indy's Child