Beyond February: Honoring Black History All Year Long with Kids

Pro-tip: Encourage children to take notes while on museum visits! 

Black History Month is a wonderful time to explore and celebrate African American legacy—but why stop there? For families, honoring Black history year-round can be as simple as weaving small, meaningful moments into everyday life or planning outings that spark curiosity. Whether you’re reading together at home or exploring museums and cultural spaces, there are so many ways to help kids connect with history in ways that feel engaging, accessible and long-lasting.

About This Guide

Sarah Acors is your DMV Kid-friendly Weekend Curator! She’s a DC Native, local parent and the founder of 4DMV Kids, a family-focused platform that helps parents discover kid-friendly, educational, and culturally rich experiences across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.This piece highlights a few meaningful ways families can honor Black History Month year round with a more detailed, event-filled family guide available through 4DMV Kids for those looking to explore additional ideas.

A Visit to the Arthur Ashe Tunnel in Richmond, VA 

Start with a Year-Round Cultural Bucket List

One of the most engaging ways to explore black history in your own backyard is by creating a family bucket list focused on cultural exploration. Instead of visiting random places throughout the year, families can choose one or two themes or moments in history to explore more intentionally, then build a simple “to-do” list to revisit over time. A bucket list helps shift the focus away from checking boxes and toward creating shared experiences that grow with your family.

As you build your list, try mixing at-home activities with outings, and invite kids to help choose what interests them most. Giving them a voice in the planning process often leads to deeper curiosity and more meaningful conversations. Families looking for inspiration can use our guide on creating a cultural bucket list for exploration at 4DMV Kids, which includes a step-by-step process and ideas to get you started.

You never know what you'll uncover through family outings!

Make Learning a Part of Everyday Life

Have you ever thought about weaving history lessons into everyday life? From sitting at a red light on the way to school to singing in the choir on Sunday, Black history connects to so many moments we experience daily.

Pausing to talk about those connections—even briefly—can turn ordinary routines into meaningful learning opportunities. You can spark curiosity with simple questions like:

● Do you know who invented the traffic light?

● What kinds of inventions do you think George Washington Carver created using peanuts?

● Why do you think civil rights are still talked about today?

And if you don’t know the answers, that’s okay. Learning together—researching, asking questions, and exploring the world around you—not only builds knowledge, but also creates lasting family memories.

Explore Black History selections at your local library 

Read, Reflect, and Share

Reading, reflecting, and sharing are powerful ways to deepen learning around Black history and culture. Whether kids are reading alongside you or exploring books independently, taking time to talk about what stands out—thoughts, questions, or feelings—can help reinforce learning while creating meaningful bonding moments.

To bring stories to life, try pairing a book with a related museum visit, cultural activity, or event. Afterward, encourage kids to share what they learned in their own way—through conversation, drawing, journaling, or even teaching someone else something new. These moments of reflection help children connect stories to real-world experiences and build confidence in expressing their ideas.

Continue At-Home Learning with PBS KIDS

If you’re looking for a fantastic Black History Month learning resource with age-appropriate videos, games, and activities, PBS KIDS is it!

Here are some recommendations to get you started:

● Learn about the origins of Black History Month through this PBS KIDS video

● Review this list of books that celebrate Black Culture

● Complete a themed activity with these suggestions from PBS KIDS

Whether through stories, conversations, or shared experiences, honoring Black history year-round helps children see themselves as part of a larger, ongoing story—one rooted in resilience, creativity, and community. By staying curious and learning together, families can celebrate that legacy every day.

For families looking to explore Black History Month events and ideas across the DMV, a full family-friendly guide that is updated annually is available through the 4DMV Kids website.