Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month! We are excited to honor women’s history and provide you with tools that help you celebrate with your family. Women’s history month is a relatively new celebration designated by Congress in 1987. However, the movement started in California in 1978 with a weeklong celebration. In 1980 President Carter declared the week of March 8 as women’s history week, and later it was extended to the full month of March.
Why do we celebrate Women’s History Month?
- We celebrate this month to recognize women’s contributions to our culture, civic life, economy and society throughout history. Kids might not know how hard women had to work to get where we are today.
- Teach children that women did not always have the right to vote, have a bank account or own a house.
- It helps to relate this to women in your family, perhaps a grandmother or great-grandmother to make this a personal connection for your children.
- It can also help to relate this to other holidays your family might celebrate, talk about those traditions and new ones you can start to celebrate women’s history.
How to celebrate at home:
- Play a game together: Research women in history like Maya Angelou or Hellen Keller. Print out picture and turn it into a game of “guess who?” using facts you learned together as a family.
- Read together: Kiddie Academy is recommending for Women’s History Month include Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea (Meena Harris), Ambitious Girl (Meena Harris), I Am Enough (Grace Byers), She Persisted (Chelsea Clinton), and Ada Twist, Scientist (Andrea Beaty). Dr. Green recommends I am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, a book about the real-life experiences of Jennings, who is a transgender woman and LGBTQ activist.
- Show gratitude: Women’s history month is a time to celebrate famous women; and, a time to celebrate the women in your life.
- Remember Diversity: Women’s history month is a time to celebrate all women. Remember to focus on all races, ethnicities and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Learn about women in history at local museums.
- Support local women owned businesses.
- Volunteer at a women’s shelter or organization.
- Send Thank you Notes to the strongest women in your life.
Help children honor Women’s History month by encouraging them to learn more!
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Sources:
How to Celebrate Women’s History Month With Kids | Parents
Your At-Home Guide to Making Women’s History Month Actually Fun for Kids (msn.com)
5 Ways to Celebrate Women’s History Month with Kids – Mommy Nearest
