Veterans Day is right around the corner, which means everyone will get together to honor and express gratitude to all the men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States, safeguarding the country and its people. This is also a great opportunity to teach children about the importance of the day and how to show gratitude to those who have been and still are protecting our nation. Here are some ideas for your kids to show their gratefulness to the country’s veterans.
Write a thank you note and send it to the vets
If you have active or retired military personnel in your family or your neighborhood, let your kids show their gratitude by writing a letter or making a cute thank you card to go along with it. This small gesture will surely touch their hearts. A quick tip — If the letter is handwritten, it is all the more heart-touching. Your kids can also send letters to delayed troops, vets, or wounded soldiers through websites.
Treat veterans with baked goods
Help your kids bake some decadent treats in the kitchen to show gratefulness to the heroes on Veterans Day. From savory dishes to flag-themed cupcakes, cookies, and brownies, your kiddos can make any dessert to treat the vets on this day. Pack them in pretty containers and deliver them to the veterans center, hospitals, or local centers. Alternatively, your children can also distribute store-bought sweet treats. This act will surely bring a smile to a veteran’s face.
Help your child make care packages
Go all out and help your child make care packages for the vets. This act of gratefulness will surely be appreciated by the heroes of our nation. Your kids can send items like batteries, candies, personal hygiene items, gift cards, ready-to-eat meals, and warm sweaters along with other things to show their care, respect, and gratefulness for the veterans. You can also host a care package drive for others to contribute to Veterans Day. This will surely be much appreciated by fellow parents who are unable to find time to prepare something special for the vets.
Let your child raise money for donation
Let your kids host a fundraiser to contribute all the proceeds to your local veterans center. This might sound like a lot of work but it’s for a noble cause, so encourage your little one to hold a donation drive. To promote this, you can make posters and fliers, or post a message on social media, especially your community’s group chat. Alternatively, your child can encourage your friends and neighbors to donate directly to the center. This act of gratefulness by your kid can change the lives of many on Veterans Day.
Help the veterans in need at the local VA hospital
Sometimes, one of the best ways to show gratefulness to the veterans is by visiting them at the hospital or retirement homes. Your kid can interact with the members and spend the day listening to their brave stories to show his/her appreciation for their service. Your child can also bring along cards, serve food, or play some music for the vets to brighten up their day. Overall, there are several opportunities at the centers to show gratitude toward the heroes of our nation.
Help your child create patriotic crafts on Veterans Day
Encourage your kid to make some patriotic crafts to show their gratefulness to the veterans on this day. Let them make small flags, banners, flyers, etc., to show their appreciation for the vets. Give these crafts to the veterans, display them at community events and parades, or share them with the vets in the hospital to say thank you in the most touching way.
Your kids can also attend parades and ceremonies, make a phone call, write a story, invite some local vets to speak at an event, and so on to show gratefulness on Veterans Day. So, free up your weekend and encourage your child to do some of these to say thank you to the heroes of our nation for all their sacrifice and commendable service. Your little one’s small gesture can touch the hearts of many and make their day, so try to take some time out of your busy schedule to accompany your kiddo to do some of these things.
