Activities and Crafts to Honor Juneteenth

To discuss Juneteenth in a way that young kids and preschoolers can understand, you may want to head over to your local library to check out a few books. Picture books are great at discussing heavy topics in ways that our young ones can grasp. There are several beautiful picture books that meaningfully capture the spirit of freedom that Juneteenth holds.

A Different Now
A Different Now, written by Angela Johnson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis, takes young readers to the day that the African-Americans were freed. The story shows how it feels to experience a huge change in a single day.

Juneteenth for Mazie
Juneteenth for Mazie, written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper, captures how a young girl learns about the meaning of Juneteenth through her grandfather as he tells the story of her great-great-grandparents.

Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth
This picture book showcases Opal Lee, who realized at a young age that she had to use her voice to get Juneteenth recognized as a holiday so that all of America can understand its importance.

"There are so many contributions and improvements, discoveries, and rich history that are credited to African Americans, that everyone should study and know more than just the usual Black historical figures," mom Rachel Pierre previously shared with Mom.com.

Juneteenth is a celebration of the moment when Africans and African-Americans were finally freed, and crafts can be one of the first steps that can help our little ones better understand what that day represents to the African-American community.

Juneteenth Flag
To commemorate Juneteenth in the 1970s the Juneteenth Flag was created in order to reflect the new progress of the Black Community. With red, white, and blue construction paper you and your toddler can re-create this special flag.

Pan-African Flag Suncatcher
The Pan-African flag symbolizes the African people across the world. The colors red, black, and green signify the sacrifices, the people, and the fertility of Africa respectively. With only using contact paper and tissue paper, this suncatcher will be a fun craft to make with your little one.

African Djembe Drums
For your older kids, have them learn about the musical aspect of African culture through the drums. Paper mache two plastic cups that are glued together by the bottoms, and then paint the now tall drums with bright colors.

The meaning of Juneteenth expands beyond slavery, and the day becomes more about the richness of African culture and of the Black communities across America.

“When you start with slavery, you’re actually starting with pain,” Celias Kelmedjio, director of the Frederick Douglass Institute at the University of Rochester, told NPR station WWXI. “And you’re starting as (if) the story of black people started with slavery.”

Thus as we teach our kids about Juneteenth, then we are also encouraged to avoid the perception that African-American culture began with slavery. So, it is time to get out of the house to see what your local communities have to showcase about African-American culture.

Have a family cookout
There is no way better than to celebrate a holiday with food. Food is the binding that brings us together. Teach your kids and maybe even yourself how to make black-eyed peas, greens, and yummy macaroni and cheese as all are staple celebratory dishes in the black community.

Attend a local event
Across the country, there will be cities hosting Juneteenth celebrations that will display African and African-American culture. Search up Juneteenth events and take the family out for the day.

Visit a museum
Find a local museum that focuses on the history of African-Americans or a museum that has an exhibit dedicated to African-American art.

Have a family movie night
Family movie night can be themed around the African-American experience in America. Movies such as Selma, A Ballerina’s Tale, and Hidden Figures are just a start to what can be watched on the 19th of June.