Memorial Day Crafts for Kids

Memorial Day, which was originally called Decoration Day, is a federal holiday of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. It is celebrated on the last Monday in May (Memorial Day 2009 is on May 25).

Memorial Day was first celebrated in 1868. On the first Memorial Day, flowers were placed on the graves of Confederate and Union soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

For many Americans, Memorial Day is a day of picnics, parades, and cookouts. However, as a reminder of the meaning of Memorial Day, in 2000, the White House issued a resolution encouraging Americans to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who died in defense of the U.S. during a national moment of remembrance at 3 p.m. on each Memorial Day.

Doing Memorial Day crafts is a good way to teach children about this holiday and its meaning. A Memorial Day tradition is to place flowers and flags on the graves of those who died defending our country. One simple but meaningful activity relevant to this tradition is to make Memorial Day flower arrangements.

Start this Memorial Day craft by gathering small containers like milk bottles, small Clorox bottles, or plastic containers for plants. Be sure that they have been rinsed out well. You will also need green foam for flower arrangements, plastic flowers, and small flags. Arrange the flowers and flags in the containers, using the foam to hold them in place. Tie red, white and blue ribbons around them, if you'd like.

These flower arrangements can be placed on the graves of veterans in your family or other veterans or simply displayed to honor all veterans who died in service to our country. This craft is a good way to teach children the meaning of Memorial Day.

Another easy but fun craft for Memorial Day that young children will enjoy is the Handheld Ribbon Streamers craft at Kaboose™ (crafts.kaboose.com). You will need a paper towel roll tube; glue; rolls of red ribbon, blue ribbon, white ribbon, and striped red, white, and blue ribbon; a hole punch; and a measuring tape or ruler.

Start by wrapping the striped red, white, and blue ribbon around the paper towel roll, gluing it down as you go, until the entire tube is covered. While the glue is drying, cut three strips of red ribbon 46 inches long, three strips of blue ribbon 46 inches long, and three strips of white ribbon 46 inches long. Tie a knot in one end of each strip of ribbon.

Once the glue on the paper towel roll is dry, punch nine holes around the bottom of the tube with the hole punch. Pull one strip of ribbon through each hole so that the knot at the end of the ribbon is on the inside of the tube. These colorful streamers are fun for children to play with at Memorial Day cookouts and other celebrations.

Sources:

www.freekidcrafts.com, Kid Memorial Day Craft Ideas

www.usmemorialday.org, Memorial Day History

crafts.kaboose.com, Kids' Crafts, Handheld Ribbon Streamers for Summer Fun