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You are here: Home / Themes / Veterans Day / Teaching Kids About Veterans Day: Resources and Ideas

Teaching Kids About Veterans Day: Resources and Ideas

By Shaunna Evans 20 Comments · This content may contain affiliate links.

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Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor and give thanks to those who have served or are serving in the military. Sandwiched between the excitement of Halloween and Thanksgiving, this day can sometimes go unnoticed by kids, but I do like teaching kids about Veterans Day and start to help them understand its significance. There are some very simple and age-appropriate ways we can teach young kids to show respect and appreciation to veterans. Here are some Veterans Day activities, teaching resources, and even some free printables.

Teaching Kids About Veterans Day-Veterans Day Activities, Teaching Resources, Free Printables, and Veterans Day Craft Ideas. Remembrance Day #veteransday #preschool #kindergarten

Talk with Kids About Veterans

Help kids understand who veterans are. Adults often describe veterans as soldiers, people who wear uniforms, and live on military bases. Of course, these things are true, but they can be very abstract for kids who aren’t familiar with military families. And it is likely that kids encounter many veterans on a regular basis; they just might not realize it.

Last year I was so moved by a Veterans Day speech given by a friend and coworker. She is now a kindergarten teacher, and nobody would guess she was a veteran or the memories she carries with her if they didn’t know her personally. She reminded all of the kids at our school that veterans are everywhere. They are our teachers, custodians, postal workers, doctors, and store clerks. And we can thank them personally on Veterans Day and every day for their service to our country.

You might consider talking with your kids about:

  • People they know who are veterans (family, friends, school staff, church members, etc)
  • The job of a soldier (what it’s like to be a soldier)
  • Things soldiers sacrifice to keep our country free (family time, holidays, special events with their children, personal safety)
  • Freedoms that we have as Americans

Say Thank You

Be a model for your children. When you see a veteran, simply say, “Thank you.” Our kids learn from us. Talk with them about why you say thank you to the soldier at the grocery store and the soldier you pass in the airport. It is such a simple act of gratitude, but it means a lot.

Grab this free printable Veteran’s Day easy reader to learn more about the branches of the military and create a thank you page for veterans.

Use this free printable Thank You note template to send a thank you note to veterans.

Make a Card or Baked Goods for a Veteran

Kids can also make cards to say thank you to veterans they know. Even pre-writers can make a simple card with sticky foam letters or by simply coloring a background that an adult can write on. If you live close to a veteran, you could even help your child make some cookies or another treat to deliver.

Attend a Ceremony or Parade

Many cities or schools host Veterans Day ceremonies or parades. Check your local community calendars to find out which ones might be best to take your kids to. We are looking forward to attending the Veterans Ceremony in our local area this weekend.

Or you could even create your own pretend parade! We made this super easy soldier craft one year as part of our Veterans day activities.

Support a Soldier

Soldier’s Angels is one organization dedicated to supporting soldiers. There are many opportunities to get involved, including sending cards, care packages, and more.

You can also contact a local organization to ask about helping veterans in your own community. The Military Wife and Mom shares a list of items you might consider adding to a care package.

Learn a Veterans Day Song or Poem

Songs for Teaching has a long list of songs to choose from.

Apples 4 the Teacher shares some poetry and rhymes.

Your kids might also like to draw a picture to go along with the song or poem you are learning together.

Read Together

Read a picture book about veterans or visit one of the websites below with your child. We enjoyed reading these books this week.

Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin

H Is for Honor: A Millitary Family Alphabet by Devin Scillian

See our full list of books to read for Veterans Day here.

Veterans Day Books for Kids

Kids Thank a Vet includes many resources to help kids learn more about veterans. There are pictures of famous veterans, book lists, activities, and much more.

Make Connections

In many parts of the world Veterans Day is called Rememberance Day, and the poppy is used as a symbol of this special day. Help kids connect that these two observances are the same, and learn a bit more about the significance of the poppy.

You might plant some poppies and learn to carry for them, or create a poppy craft.

You might try making a field of torn paper poppies,

displaying beautiful poppy suncatchers,

or creating coffee filter poppies.

More Resources to Explore

As kids learn about Veterans Day and different family members who have served in the military they often have questions about the different branches of the US Military. Use these free printable military branches puzzles to introduce the different branches.

Operation We Are Here shares an extensive list of resources including 101 Ways to Thank a Vet.

All About Veterans Day for Kids from Home School Coach includes facts, activities, and suggested books.

At the Home School Mom you will find a lengthy list of PreK-12 resources that you can filter according to your child’s grade level.

Practice math skills while learning about symbols related to Veterans Day with this free printable color by code math set.

Add these free printable Veterans Day counting puzzles to your math activities.

You can also find some Veterans Day crafts and free printables on this Pinterest board.

Please let me know in the comments if there are any other ways you and your family honor veterans on Veterans Day, and if you are a veteran, I sincerely thank you for your service and dedication.

Teaching Young Kids About Veterans Day
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Filed Under: Patriotic, Veterans Day Tagged With: kids Veterans Day activities, Veterans Day, Veterans Day children, Veterans Day kids, Veterans Day thank you

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gary

    November 11, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    The “VA KIDS” link is a dead link. Just an FYI.

    While we are polite about accepting “Thank You”, there are some of us that are VERY uncomfortable being thanked. The reasons are harder to explain then you may be able to imagine. In my case, I am one of 2 out of 148 to survive exposure to lethal amounts of radiation. PLEASE, have an adult ask before sending your children up to thank a vet with no warning……some of us do have survivors guilt.

    Reply
    • Shaunna

      February 4, 2020 at 9:41 pm

      Thank you for sharing your personal insight with us.

      Reply
  2. randa handler

    November 7, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    Great suggestions and comments! I agree any change we get to increase a child’s awareness of veterans is a great idea. BTW, I tried to do that with my educational book about thanksgiving. It explains the holiday and thanks our vets.

    Reply
    • Shaunna

      February 1, 2020 at 10:08 pm

      Thanks for reading, Randa, and for sharing your thoughts!

      Reply
  3. Summer Cargile

    October 14, 2014 at 11:29 am

    Thank you

    Reply
  4. Anna@The Measured Mom

    November 15, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    Veterans Day often feels like the forgotten holiday. Thanks for these reminders to make it real for our kids! (Thanks also for linking up!!)

    Reply
    • Summer Cargile

      October 14, 2014 at 11:30 am

      You are amazing.

      Reply
  5. Natalie F

    November 12, 2013 at 12:29 am

    Those are great ideas. I am also pinning this post to my November celebration board. Thanks for sharing with Afterschool!

    Reply
  6. Jackie Higgins

    November 11, 2013 at 12:56 pm

    This is a great post. I never really thought of explaining to my boys that veterans are people who live and work around us every day. I’m going to try and be more aware of that and help them to understand. I can’t wait to check out your book suggestions as well!

    Reply
    • Shaunna Evans

      November 11, 2013 at 3:06 pm

      Thanks, Jackie! I think that’s a helpful point for kids…it makes the concept so much more concrete to them. I hope you enjoy the books, too!

      Reply
  7. Sally

    November 5, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    Thank you for such a thoughtful article, packed full of resources and ideas. My husband is a veteran (and currently Navy reservist). Yet like most families we forget to pause and be thankful for those who serve our country. I’ll be sharing your post 🙂

    Reply
    • Shaunna Evans

      November 8, 2013 at 3:02 pm

      Thank you, Sally! I really wanted to write something that would be helpful for people who do want to talk with kids about this topic. I know it was hard for me to find resources when I was a classroom teacher, so I’m glad this is becoming a tool for others. And thank you to both you and your husband for his continued service.

      Reply
  8. Eileen Mc Aree

    November 12, 2012 at 7:43 am

    Thanks for the wonderful ideas. I “liked” and “pinned”!

    Reply
    • Shaunna

      November 12, 2012 at 2:19 pm

      I am glad you liked them. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  9. Jill

    November 11, 2012 at 11:45 am

    What a thoughtful and wonderful post full of suggestions on how to bring awareness of vetrans at a child’s level. I have shared this today on my Facebook page. Thank you for linking up to my Enchanted Thursdays Blog Hop this week!

    Reply
    • Shaunna

      November 11, 2012 at 12:26 pm

      I am glad you found it helpful. Thanks so much for sharing on your Facebook page.

      Reply
  10. JDaniel4's Mom

    November 9, 2012 at 10:32 am

    I love all the wonderful ways you have to give back to those who have served. Thank you so much for ,linking to Read.Explore.Learn. I am going to share this post on the Read.Explore.Learn. Facebook page today. Oh! You might like the book The Wall by Eve Bunting. It talks about Veteran’s too.

    Reply
    • Shaunna

      November 9, 2012 at 1:00 pm

      I am glad you liked the ideas. Thanks so much for sharing on Facebook, and I appreciate the book suggestion. I will have to check it out.

      Reply
  11. Jamie @ The Unlikely Homeschool

    November 9, 2012 at 12:27 am

    My dad was a Veteran and was a good reminder that Vets are all around us. Whenever my kids and I see a “vet” license plate on a vehicle, we try and remember to say thanks to the driver and ask when/where he or she served. Almost always, the veterans love to share.

    Reply
    • Shaunna

      November 9, 2012 at 5:58 am

      Thanks for the suggestion, Jamie. I think looking for “vet” license plates is a great idea for increasing a child’s awareness of veterans in our communities. And I agree, I find most veterans are very cordial and willing to share.

      Reply

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