Happy Black History Month

Fun and powerful ways to celebrate at home with your kids this year.

Each year during the month of February we celebrate the achievements and culture of African Americans.  It’s a chance to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history. This month, you can teach your kids about Black History at home using some of the fun crafts, books, and activities below. 

Support Black-Owned Businesses 

Life mixed with parenthood is busy, and cooking dinner may not be manageable every night. Food delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash make it easy to support black-owned businesses by highlighting them on their apps this month. By supporting more Black-owned companies, you can help create more opportunities for property ownership, credit building, and generational wealth for black communities. Having dinner with your children also builds strong bonds and promotes open conversation.  

Learn about Influential Black Figures

During Black History month, the focus is normally on Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and other well-known figures. Take some time to learn about local history makers like Lee Roy Selmon – professional NFL Hall of Famer who made his mark on Tampa Bay. Try reading about the Armwood family who established domestic science schools for black women and girls, co-founded the Tampa Urban League, and organized numerous clubs and organizations dedicated to the betterment of the community. Is your child interested in sports or dance or literature? Take time to research, then talk with your children about Black trailblazers in their areas of interest! Share pictures, videos, or movies and that helps tell the stories of these prominent Black figures. 

Purchase, Read and Share Books by Black Authors

There are wonderful children’s books that celebrate our country’s diversity and the black culture. ‘Dream Big Little One’ by Vashti Harrison and ‘Full, Full, Full of Love’ by Trish Cooke are great examples of books that celebrate black culture and black authors. 

Follow Champions’ “Book of the Week” on Facebook where we highlight one book per week from our Amazon Wish List. Books allow our children to experience the world in different ways. Storytime can help your child learn new words, meet new people, and broaden their thinking — all while cuddling with you at home.

Visit our Amazon Wish List to support our efforts to provide books to our client families and community partners! Find the Wish List here: https://a.co/0xX21HJ

Celebrate with Art

With many Black History Month events taking the virtual route this year, the good news is that it’s even easier to attend events. Did you know Michaels Craft Store is hosting virtual classes and events? In this month’s class, they will discuss why Black History Month should be incorporated into young people’s (and adults’) learning throughout the year. They will share how to have conversations about race and skin color with young people through creativity and art by creating their own portraits using basic paint colors. This class is taking place on Monday, February 15th. Visit Michaels’ website to sign up today!

Celebrating Black History Month at home is fun and easy. It also allows you and your children to learn and give tribute to significant achievements from the Black community. From supporting Black-owned businesses to crafting and art-making with a purpose, there are tons of activities to do at home to help you celebrate.  Want more ideas for celebrating virtually or in-person around Tampa? Check out this extensive list put together by Family Friendly Tampa Bay.