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With Veterans Day approaching on November 11, families have a unique opportunity to teach children about the importance of honoring those who served in the U.S. military. Educating children about Veterans Day can encourage a sense of gratitude, empathy, and respect and broaden children’s understanding of sacrifice and patriotism through meaningful family activities.

Learn together – Read age-appropriate stories, and watch videos about veterans’ experiences. These educational activities can help children grasp the importance of military service. Programs like Honor Their Courage from the Wounded Warrior Project offer engaging resources for children in kindergarten – 12th grade (Care.com, 2023; Wounded Warrior Project).

Talk to Veterans and Listen to Their Stories – Listen to veterans share their stories. Conversations with veterans can be a valuable way for children to learn about military life, sacrifices, and resilience. Perhaps you and your family could look at photos from the veteran’s service days. Discussing the people or events captured in the photo can help children ask thoughtful questions and understand the experiences of veterans on a personal level. Remember to be mindful of each veteran’s comfort level as some may appreciate companionship but may not want to recount their experiences (Military.com; Care.com, 2023).

Get Creative – Encourage children to express their gratitude for veterans by crafting thank-you cards, constructing small flags, or designing paper medals. Writing letters or poems is another meaningful activity that can help children reflect on veterans’ contributions. Families can display these creative projects around the home for Veterans Day, and make this special day an educational and engaging event for the entire family (Wounded Warrior Project; National Education Association, 2020).

Observe Flag Etiquette – Teach children about the significance of the American flag and how to respectfully handle it. Small actions, like displaying and folding the flag correctly, help children understand how the flag represents the sacrifices made by Service members (Care.com, 2023).

Decorate Veterans’ Graves – Visit a cemetery and place flags or flowers on veterans’ graves. This activity can help reinforce the concept of remembrance and respect and may develop into a meaningful family tradition to repeat on future Veterans Days (Military.com).

Invite a Veteran on an Outdoor Outing – If you know a veteran or a military family, consider inviting them for an outing to a local park or on a hike. Spending time in nature can support mental well-being and can offer a relaxed environment for connection (Military.com).

Engage in Service Projects and Community Activities – Connect with local veterans through service projects inspired by organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project and Military Family Life. Engaging in and supporting fundraisers, pen-pal programs, or volunteer events can foster cross-generational friendships and deeper connections with veterans.

Connect Veterans to the Classroom – The National Education Association provides classroom resources to bring Veterans Day to life. Families can collaborate with teachers to arrange visits from veterans or participate in school assemblies, which may enrich children’s learning and community ties (National Educational Association, 2020).

Be a Role Model – Children learn by observing others and often mimic behaviors they have seen. When parents and family members actively honor veterans—whether by making thank-you cards, organizing community events, or simply showing gratitude—they set an example. This helps children learn respect, appreciation, and a genuine sense of patriotism in everyday life.
Through thoughtful, educational activities, families can help make Veterans Day a meaningful tradition that teaches children to appreciate and honor veterans’ sacrifices throughout the year.