8 Ways To Teach Children The Importance Of Independence Day

We are slowly inching towards the date and day when we celebrate our country's 72^nd Independence Day. For most of us, the day has been reduced to nothing but a hint to check for longer weekends to plan small vacations. No harm there. But there can actually be a way to celebrate the day and its importance so that our kids remember it and pride about.

I remember my childhood days when Republic Day and Independence Day were celebrated with the same enthusiasm as festivals. A month in advance we would start preparing on national songs, make our own props for stage shows; little kids wore sarees or white churidar-kurtas to school, whereas l carried flags and pinned flag badges. We had a flag hoisting ceremony in our society, after which sports and cultural programmes were organized to showcase unity in diversity in our country. I remember having a lot of fun. There were documentaries on television that described at large the independence struggle of the nation. We still had parents and grandparents who had been a part of the freedom struggle and spoke about the life and times back then. Even as I write this, I am stuck in time and miss those days.

The value of patriotism is slowly eroding out of our day to day existence. If you have noticed, not all theatres or schools play national anthem during morning assembly. Don't you think this way our kids are missing out a lot? Well, I think so. Playing national anthem at public places not only reminds us about our nation but also help us to devote a few minutes to respect our diverse culture by singing the national song.

My little one is four years old, and sings National Anthem and Vande Mataram. Though not very well but it makes me very proud. Her school still hasn't started teaching any of these songs. Thus, I have decided to celebrate the national day in a special way to impart its importance. Not only this, I would love to share the same with you so that you too enjoy celebrating Independence Day with your kid.

My Independence Day Plan:  

1. Soon after bath, dress your child in tricolours of our national flag or simply in white. Greet her with Indian flag and give her a badge.
2. Make a tricolour breakfast- sandwich or idlis. Also, make thematic lunch or dinner.
3. Attend the flag hoisting event held by your society or any other place.
4. Spend time drawing and painting the tricolour flag, or make tricolour badges and hair bands. I did this last year with kids in my apartment during a hobby class which also involved other mommy friends. It's all fun!
5. Play some national songs to get your child in a patriotic mood.
6. Tell your child stories about national leaders.
7. Try and take her to a museum.
8. Teach her about national bird, food, animal, sports, etc.

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