Celebrating Women's History Month with Young Children
(Written by Emily Thomas)
The early years of childhood are like magical discovery zones – where curious little minds are constantly forming their understanding of the world! When we share stories of remarkable women with our children, we're doing something absolutely extraordinary – we're opening up a universe of possibilities, showing that greatness, courage, and innovation can look like ANYONE.
Did you know that children as young as two start noticing gender differences? By age five, many have already picked up some pretty limiting ideas about what girls and boys can do. But here's our superpower as parents and caregivers: we can bust those stereotypes wide open! By celebrating women's achievements, we're planting seeds of possibility right from the start.
The most beautiful part? These conversations grow right alongside your child. What begins as a simple bedtime story about a brave woman becomes a foundation for deep conversations about equality, perseverance, and justice. Those early moments of wonder and discovery become the values that will shape how your child sees the world – and themselves – for years to come. Think of it like this: every story you share is like a tiny spark of inspiration, a whisper that says, "You can do anything." And who doesn't want to give their child the gift of endless potential?
Age-Appropriate Ways to Explore Women's History
For Toddlers (1-3 years) During these wonder-filled years when language and awareness are blossoming, simple approaches work best.
🖼️ Picture Books with Purpose: Look for board books featuring diverse women characters doing all sorts of activities – flying planes, building structures, exploring nature, or leading communities. These visual representations matter deeply, even before your child understands the historical context.
👷 Everyday Connections: Point out women in your community doing various jobs: "Look at the firefighter keeping everyone safe!" or "See how carefully the construction worker is building that wall?" These small moments help normalize women in all roles.
For Preschoolers (3-5 years) As imagination and curiosity flourish during these years, you can expand your approach.
📖 Illustrated Biographies: The growing collection of picture book biographies written specifically for young children provides perfect entry points to women's history. Look for stories that emphasize qualities preschoolers understand – kindness, courage, creativity, and persistence.
👭 Family Story Sharing: Create special moments to share stories about the women in your family history. What challenges did great-grandma face? What was your mother's favorite childhood game? These personal connections make history come alive.
🎨 Creative Expression: Introduce your child to women artists like Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe, or Faith Ringgold, then offer materials to create their own art inspired by these women's styles. For science enthusiasts, try simple experiments connected to women scientists like Jane Goodall or Katherine Johnson.
For Elementary School Children (6-10 years) The elementary years are a magical time when children's worlds expand beyond their immediate experiences.
📚 Biography Deep Dives: Elementary-aged children are ready for more nuanced stories about historical women. Choose biographies that highlight both achievements and challenges faced. Look for books that show the full humanity of women in history – their doubts, persistence, failures, and triumphs.
⏰ Timeline Explorations: Create a visual timeline together showing how women's roles and rights have evolved. Use simple markers for significant moments – when women gained the right to vote, when the first woman went to space, when important laws changed. This helps children understand history as a connected story.
♥️ Service Learning: Connect historical learning to present-day action. After learning about women who advocated for education, perhaps organize a book drive for a girls' school. After studying women environmentalists, plan a family nature clean-up.
Engaging Activities for Little Learners
"Brave Women" Story Time
Create a cozy reading nook dedicated to women's history books. Make story time interactive by asking empathetic questions to engage and keep a special basket of these books accessible so children can explore independently.
"When I Grow Up" Dress-Up Play
Develop a diverse career dress-up collection that challenges stereotypes and rotate items monthly. Include dress up items such as scientific gear (lab coat, safety goggles) construction equipment, sports attire and chef's accessories. Mechanic's toolkitEngage children in imaginative play by asking open-ended questions about their "work."
Family Heritage Project
Transform family history into a meaningful exploration of women's stories by creating a simple family tree focusing on 2-3 generations. Highlight each woman's unique strengths through brief, meaningful descriptions, and bring their stories to life by displaying meaningful family heirlooms. Create a special display space where these treasures can be discussed, turning family history into a living narrative that children can connect with and explore.
"Helping Hands" Community Connection
Support and celebrate women in your local community through intentional experiences and demonstrate women's community contributions through hands-on experiences. Visit women-owned businesses, attend events led by women professionals, and choose to support women-led organizations. These experiences help children see women as powerful, capable leaders in every aspect of community life, demonstrating their important contributions beyond traditional narratives.
Gentle Conversation Starters
Turn everyday moments into opportunities for learning about women's history with thoughtful, open-ended questions. Invite children to reflect on women's stories, community contributions, and personal potential through curious, non-judgmental conversations. The goal is to nurture empathy, curiosity, and a broader understanding of women's roles and achievements throughout history and today.
Resources for Families
Picture Books That Inspire:
"She Persisted" series by Chelsea Clinton
"Little People, Big Dreams" biography series
"Counting on Katherine" by Helaine Becker (about Katherine Johnson)
"The Girl Who Thought in Pictures" by Julia Finley Mosca (about Temple Grandin)
"The Story of Ruby Bridges" by Robert Coles
Community Resources:
Your local library likely offers special displays and programming during March
Children's museums often feature special exhibits highlighting women innovators and creators
Historical societies may offer family-friendly events exploring local women's history
Women's colleges or universities sometimes host community days with interactive learning opportunities
Remember that celebrating women's achievements isn't just a March activity. These conversations, books, and experiences can become treasured parts of your family culture throughout the year, nurturing values of equality, respect, and possibility in your little one's developing worldview. Each story shared, question asked, and activity enjoyed plants seeds of understanding that will grow with your child, helping them recognize and appreciate the vital contributions women make to our world – past, present, and future.