More so now than ever, we need to come together in unity and find ways to make our world a better place. There’s no better time than now to start teaching our kids about diversity, kindness and equality. With a fresh year beginning and Martin Luther King Day around the corner, this is an opportune time. MLK Day takes place on the third Monday of this month (January 18, 2021.) Many businesses and schools will be closed, making this nationally recognized holiday a great chance for families to learn about civil rights and American history together. If you have older children they should grasp the concepts on the civil rights movement easily. However, younger children learn better through hands on activities.  Reading books, creating works of art, watching films, volunteering in the community and attending events are all great ways for children to learn. I hope that these creative crafts, recommended reads and local events help inspire love and peace.

CREATIVE CRAFTS

RECOMMENDED READS

VIRTUAL AND LOCAL EVENTS

BE THE LIGHT – CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Dates: Saturday, January 16, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Details: Join Port Discovery in celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy during our “Be the Light” event! Experience the strength of celebrating differences and stories in our community, take part in interactive programs and virtual performances designed to educate, inspire and help children understand the positive impact that their dreams and creativity can have on the world around them, inspired by Dr. King’s message!
BE THE LIGHT – CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Dates: Sunday, January 17, 2021
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Virtual Event Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Details: Join Port Discovery in celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy during our “Be the Light” event! Experience the strength of celebrating differences and stories in our community, take part in interactive programs and virtual performances designed to educate, inspire and help children understand the positive impact that their dreams and creativity can have on the world around them, inspired by Dr. King’s message!
exclusive and virtual performance featuring Diane Macklin: Storyteller! Diane specializes in audience participating, character education and developmentally appropriate programming – making this Storyteller performance perfect for little learners! SIgn up now: https://www.portdiscovery.org/play/discovery-stage-series
MLK DAYS 2021
Dates: Saturday, January 16 – Monday, January 18, 2021
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: A virtual community event on Zoom host by Annmarie Gardens
Details: Pick your day and join one of the FREE Zoom sessions!
Cost: FREE
Registration Link
MLK TRIBUTE
Dates: Sunday, January 17, 2021
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Virtual Event host by Arlington Parks
Details: Arlington, Virginia’s annual tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is virtual in 2021! Log in to a free online event where you can choose what you want to see, when you want to see it, from music and dance to spoken word and community dialogues.
Cost: FREE
Event Link
HONORING DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
Dates: Monday, January 18, 2021
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Families can virtually dive into the stories of civil rights activists in New York, not only Dr. King but also Ella Baker, Milton Galamison, Bayard Rustin, Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture). Explore Dr. King’s oft-overlooked activism against the Vietnam War as it relates to the ongoing movement for Black Lives today.
Cost: FREE
Event Link
ONLINE FAMILY PROGRAM- SONG WRITING 101 MLK
Dates: Saturday, January 16, 2021
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual event host by The Museum of New York
Details: If you could change the world through song, what would you change and what would you say to inspire that change? Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement he led inspired songs promoting freedom and justice, including Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released.” In this introductory workshop, join a museum educator on Zoom to write a song as a group. Music professional Adam Ollendorff will teach the fundamentals of songwriting, including form, theme, and rhyme scheme. Via chat, participants will share ideas and write an original song. Ollendorff has toured as a member of Kacey Musgraves’s band, and his songs have been recorded by Will Hoge and Keb’ Mo’. Recommended for age 7 and up.
Cost: FREE
THE ABC’S OF BLACK HISTORY
Date: Jan. 21, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Virtual event host by Charles County Public Library
Details: Join us for a special storytime with author Rio Cortez. Letter by letter, The ABCs of Black History celebrates a story that spans continents and centuries, triumph and heartbreak, creativity and joy.
More information: http://ow.ly/Pxx650D6liY
Visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Honor the most powerful voice of the Civil Rights movement, by visiting the MLK Memorial. Read 15 quotes etched in granite. While there play the “I Have a Dream” speech under his stone shadow for an even more powerful message. Link to Speech can be found on the PBS website where you will also find educational activities.
***The Playful Parent is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit dedicated to advocating learning through play and promoting family bonding.***