June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGTBTQ) people and an ideal opportunity to teach your kids about what it means.
You don’t have to be LGBTQ to participate in Pride Month. Allies are welcome and everyone is welcome to celebrate — especially in the spirit of equal rights. Nowadays, there are more ways than ever to take part in Pride Month activities with your child.
Here are 5 ways you can celebrate pride month with your child.
Kids love to make rainbows, and Pride Month is the ideal time to get crafty with colorful projects. From homemade wands and friendship bracelets to decorated cookies and colorful cupcakes, there are endless ways to create rainbow-themed decorations.
Stories are an ideal way to introduce children to diverse families and gender identities while teaching them about embracing differences and overcoming diversity. You’ll find a range of children’s book recommendations online. Children’s Books Daily also offers a list of 50 books celebrating pride month for readers of all ages.
Have a movie night
Take time to watch movies or television shows that normalize and support gender differences. From Pixar’s shorts Out and In a Heartbeat to the films Love, Simon and The Kids Are Alright, movies help normalize LGBQT lifestyles and demonstrate what it means to support, accept and celebrate differences.
If your children are old enough, you can create an afternoon bake sale or lemonade stand, and donate part or all of the proceeds — even if it’s just a few dollars — to an LGBQT charity, perhaps one that supports youth and teens. In this way, you’ll empower your children not only to celebrate Pride Month, but also to actively show support through their own efforts.
