Black History Month is an annual observance in February dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements, history, and contributions of Black people. For preschoolers, it is an opportunity to learn about diversity, fairness, and the rich culture of Black Americans through age-appropriate activities, stories, and music.
Calendar Template for Early Education Programs
Use this template to create a valuable resource for families and get them excited for events at your program.
Why is Black History Month important for young children?
Celebrating Black History Month helps children build empathy, appreciate diversity, and understand the world around them. Research suggests that children as young as six months notice physical differences like skin color, making early childhood the perfect time to introduce positive representations of all races.
Building a foundation of inclusion
Teaching children to notice and celebrate differences is a vital part of social-emotional learning. By incorporating an anti-bias curriculum, educators can create a classroom environment where every child feels seen and valued. This involves:
- Representing diversity: Using dolls, books, and materials that feature diverse characters.
- Inviting conversation: Encouraging questions about differences rather than avoiding them.
- Celebrating culture: Exploring music, art, and stories from various backgrounds year-round.
How to explain Black History Month to preschoolers
The best way to explain Black History Month to young children is to frame it as a special time to remember and celebrate important people who made our world better. You can explain that while we celebrate everyone all year, February is a special birthday-like celebration for Black history.
Tips for age-appropriate conversations
Talking about history and race with young children can feel daunting, but keeping it simple is key.
- Focus on celebration: Highlight the achievements of Black artists, scientists, and leaders.
- Acknowledge fairness: Explain that in the past, rules were not always fair to Black people, and many brave people worked hard to change those rules.
- Connect to the present: Remind children that Black history is American history and that Black culture continues to shape our world today.
Build quality connections with families in your program with a tool like brightwheel. Share what your children are learning in the classroom by sending daily activity reports and monthly newsletters to families. This gives families insight into their child's day and increases family engagement at your program.
Creative Black History Month activities for preschoolers
Engaging children with hands-on learning is the most effective way to teach new concepts. Below are categorized activities designed to bring Black history to life in your childcare program.
Musical activities
Music captures attention and helps children retain information.
- Listen to Black musical artists: Play songs by artists like Nanny Nikki or Uncle Devin. You can also explore Spotify playlists featuring children’s music by African American artists.
- Explore jazz: Introduce the smooth sounds of jazz with the Jazz for Children playlist from Jazz at Lincoln Center.
- Experience global sounds: Use Putumayo Children to explore music from Africa and the Caribbean.
Book recommendations
Reading is a powerful tool for introducing complex topics gently.
- For infants and toddlers: Try Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi or music-inspired books like One Love by Cedella Marley.
- For preschoolers: Read The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez or Parker Looks Up by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry.
- Biographies: Look for the Little People, BIG DREAMS series featuring figures like Rosa Parks and Maya Angelou.
Art and science projects
Connect history to tangible creations children can make themselves.
- Story quilts: Inspired by author and artist Faith Ringgold, have children create paper squares and combine them to make a classroom "quilt."
- Sweet potato experiment: Learn about botanist George Washington Carver by sprouting a sweet potato in a jar of water.
- Space exploration: Discuss astronaut Mae Jemison and create space-themed art to celebrate her contributions to science.
- Portrait painting: Look at the presidential portraits by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, then invite children to paint their own self-portraits using diverse skin-tone paints.
Culinary exploration
Food connects us to culture and history.
- Cook together: Try toddler-friendly recipes from cookbooks like Watermelon and Redbirds or Jubilee.
- Taste test: Introduce foods like cornbread, yams, or collard greens during snack time and discuss their cultural significance.
Other Black History Month resources
The resources below can supplement your classroom activities and reinforce important concepts.
How to talk to children about racism
Learning about Black history means learning about the ongoing fight for freedom and justice against the forces of racism and oppression. This article from NAEYC shares helpful books, activity ideas, and topic questions for having these conversations with young children.
The National Museum of African American History
Explore the National Museum of African American History in-person or online. The Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C. has online access to the collection. The website even features a section dedicated to early childhood education!
Helpful anti-bias websites
EmbraceRace and The Conscious Kid have book lists, articles, guides, webinars, and more to support your school community’s anti-bias education goals.
Celebrating diversity all year round
While February is a designated time for celebration, inclusive education should happen every day. Ensure your classroom library, toy shelves, and music playlists reflect diversity throughout the entire year.
- Audit your materials: Check that puzzles, dolls, and books represent various skin tones, hair textures, and abilities.
- Celebrate other heritage months: Mark your calendar for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Native American Heritage Month.
Frequently asked questions
Is my child too young to learn about Black History Month?
No, children are never too young to learn about inclusion. Even infants benefit from seeing diverse faces in books and hearing music from different cultures, which helps normalize diversity from the start.
How can I involve families in these celebrations?
Send home a newsletter detailing what the children are learning and suggest a "family favorite" recipe swap or a book list so families can continue the conversation at home.
Do I need a special curriculum to teach Black history?
You do not need a separate curriculum. You can integrate Black history into your existing lesson plans by choosing diverse books for story time, adding multicultural supplies to art stations, and playing diverse music during free play.
