How Should You Talk To Young Children About Dr. Martin King Jr.?
Fortunately, because many of us are now getting much of our information from the internet, a holiday like Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday does not go by without notice or new insights. Recent articles call attention to the fact that Dr. King's message, though always non-violent, was more complex than the simple "I Have A Dream" line. I appreciate this more in-depth examination of his writings and speeches, especially at a time when addressing inequality in our society is more critical than ever.
But that said, as parents and educators, we must be thoughtful in how this information is presented to very young children… if at all. Young children especially under the age of seven, are unable to understand the complexity of human nature, and it is not appropriate to share with them information that though true, may depict violence and cruelty.
Beginning around age four, discussions of unfairness and injustice may be broached, but always with the caveat that… we as adults are working hard to correct the wrongs in the world and that we will always do our best to keep them safe.
This following blog was originally posted in January 2018.
After the frantic weeks of December, decorating, shopping, cooking and baking; I love settling into the reflective time of January days. In a world of national and international strife, the inspiration and wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is right on time.
As the teacher of young children, I had the special privilege of sharing his message to a very interested audience. For a child in Nursery School the concept of friendship is one that is just beginning to be understood. Combine that with a birthday celebration and they are all eyes and ears. The idea that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man whose dream was that "all children would be friends”, is something they embrace whole heartedly.
With nursery school age children, it is a good idea to begin an introduction of this civil rights leader with a simple story about his dream of people getting along. While children with older siblings may volunteer more details about his life, and death, our goal is to keep the story simple and stay focused on his message.
Paper friendships dolls can a big part of the celebration, complete with decorating and the naming of friends. Singing and dancing was part of every celebration (if not every day), so we adapted the song “We Shall Overcome” to use the words, “We Shall All Be Friends”. Kids love learning to cross their hands to make a people chain. And for a dance tune, the Stevie Wonder Tribute song, “Happy Birthday” is perfect. Without suggesting it, children begin to include these themes in their drawings and creative dramatics.
Year after year, as children learned about Dr. King’s message, it was not uncommon to hear a child comment on another child’s kind act, "that would make Doctor Martin Luther King Junior, very happy”. There is something about knowing and saying his full name that young children take a certain pride in…and so do I.
Check out these relevant blog posts:
How To Instill Tolerance And Appreciation For All Families?
