Remembrance Day is a time to honour those who served their country and made sacrifices to protect our freedoms. While the significance of this day may be hard for young children to fully grasp, there are simple activities that can help them participate in a thoughtful and age-appropriate way.

1. Create Poppy Crafts

The red poppy is a powerful symbol of Remembrance Day, representing the flowers that grew on the battlefields during World War I. Crafting poppies is a simple and hands-on way for young children to connect with this symbol.

How to do it: Use red construction paper, black markers or buttons, and green pipe cleaners to make poppies. Cut out poppy shapes from the red paper, glue the black button or circle in the middle, and attach the green pipe cleaner as the stem. These can be worn or displayed around the home.

Crafting poppies helps children visualise the meaning of the day while developing fine motor skills through cutting, gluing, and arranging.

2. Observe a Moment of Silence

The two-minute silence observed at 11:00 AM on Remembrance Day is a time for quiet reflection and respect. Teaching children to participate in this tradition fosters an understanding of the importance of honouring those who served.

How to do it: Explain to your child that the silence is a way to remember brave people who helped protect the country. Before the silence begins, you could say, “We’re going to be quiet now to think about those who were brave and helped others.”

Even if young children may struggle to remain quiet for the entire two minutes, the act of participating teaches respect and reflection.

3. Make a Remembrance Wreath

Wreaths are often laid at war memorials to show respect for fallen soldiers. Making a remembrance wreath at home can help children understand this symbol of honour.

How to do it: Cut out a circular shape from cardboard to serve as the base of the wreath. Create red poppies out of paper, and attach them around the circle. Add a ribbon or sign in the centre that says “Lest We Forget.”

This activity helps children grasp the idea of paying tribute, and the wreath can be hung on the front door or placed in a special spot in the home as a sign of remembrance.

4. Write or Draw Thank You Cards for Veterans

Expressing gratitude is a key theme of Remembrance Day. Help children create thank you cards to send to veterans as a way to show appreciation for their service.

How to do it: Have your child draw pictures or write simple messages like “Thank you for your bravery” or “We are grateful for you.” These cards can be delivered to local veteran organisations or community centres.

This activity allows children to connect with veterans directly and teaches them the importance of saying “thank you” in meaningful ways.

5. Read a Remembrance Day Book

Books are a great way to introduce children to the concepts of Remembrance Day in a way that’s easy for them to understand. Reading together can open up discussions about the themes of sacrifice, courage, and remembrance.

How to do it: Choose a children’s book focused on Remembrance Day, such as A Poppy Is to Remember by Heather Patterson or The Poppy Lady by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh. Read aloud to your child, and afterward, talk about what they learned from the story.

This activity helps children understand the history and significance of the day through engaging storytelling.

These five activities provide simple yet meaningful ways for young children to engage with Remembrance Day. By crafting, reflecting, reading, and giving thanks, they’ll begin to understand the importance of honouring those who served, while learning the values of respect and gratitude.

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5 Meaningful Remembrance Day Activities for Young Children