El January 30 is the day that is dedicated in schools to celebrate Peace and Nonviolence. This year, each center will try to adapt the memory and keep this day in mind, following the rules. However, and so that your children do not remain without reflecting on the Day of Peace and Non-Violence, you can do a series of activities at home.
We are going to propose you some funny ideas, but you already know that each child is different. There are some who are more interested in poems, other crafts, songsWe will try to satisfy all tastes and all ages.
Start counting the value of Peace
We can start this day or the previous days by explaining to our children why January 30 is the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace? This day was chosen because it was when Mahatma Gandhi, a pacifist, passed away and leader of Indian independence. There are different stories and books adapted to the little ones about the life of this leader. You can also tell him about Pablo Picasso's Dove of Peace and how the symbol of Peace was chosen.
Then we can explain that Peace not only refers to the wars that are still going on, but peace implies an attitude with siblings, parents, friends. And today is a good time to start practicing that. Something that always helps pacify is avoiding yelling. If you add to this asking for things please, or giving thanks, there is already a long way to go.
Tolerance, empathy, solidarity, understanding are part of Peace. There are many stories, movies, and resources that you can use to talk with children about these topics. The simplest activity is to make a traffic light of peace. We explain what it consists of. This traffic light can be hung in the child's room.
How to make a traffic light in La Paz?
For children, especially the youngest ones, it can be somewhat abstract to talk about Peace. In addition, many of them still do not manage their emotions, or do not even distinguish them. If you want to make a fun family activity that deals with the theme of Peace we recommend this traffic light.
We need to prepare the material: markers, one large and two green A4-size cardstock, colored paper that can be glued and peeled off with velcro or other material. They can be two-colored post-its. The first thing is to paint above something related to peace, it can be the word, some doves, or a happy face. Then we have glued the two green A4 cards underneath, horizontally or vertically, as you want. And next to one you have to draw a smiling face. In this we will put the things that favor peace. On the other card we will put a sad face next to it, for things that do not favor peace.
Now we will be putting with pos-it 6 words that reflect actions or attitudes that favor peace and 6 that do not. So that it is not so abstract for them, we can put: hug, help, be friends ... things that children can understand better. There should always be 6 at each traffic light, but every day we can change it. So that the child does not forget that peace is something of every day.
Family activities to celebrate peace
The day of Peace and Nonviolence seems the most appropriate day to celebrate it with the family. For this you can mount a specific decoration. Children really like to make doves of peace with their hands stained with white tempera on colored cardboard. You can even put the olive pick and twig on them and hang them as garlands.
Doing a karaoke it is always a very fun activity. Each member of the family can current by choosing their own song and the rest will vote for the Song of Peace. Those who dare not sing can recite a poem about peace. They are well known and easy to memorize. With this activity they will also be getting to know the writers and encouraging reading.
Another idea is read them a story about peace, cover the cover for them and have them imagine this cover, or the scene that they liked the most. Then you can hang the drawing in a nice place. If your children like mandalas, the one they make today may be dedicated to Peace. Ask him to focus on the color he thinks Peace has.