Presidents Day Celebration: 5 Simple Ideas
What is Presidents’ Day about, anyway? Some people get the day off from work, some people get the day off from school. It seems sensible to set aside a day every year to honor the people who have taken on the enormous responsibility of serving as president of the United States for the benefit of their fellow citizens. Primarily believes that no matter who holds the office of “POTUS,” we must instill in our children a respect for the title and a commitment to uphold the mandate. Here are a few enjoyable and simple activities to spend Presidents’ Day the Primerrily way with your kids to get them away from their screens and into some interactive Presidential history!
1. Sing along to the national anthem for the president!
What song(s) are your kids’ favorites? It’s wise to switch things up since, if they’re anything like my kids, we’re still watching Moana and Frozen repeatedly. Here is a video of the U.S. Marine Corps Band performing “Hail to the Chief,” the national song of the United States, along with some outstanding images of past presidents. What song best describes you, ask your kids before you start the music. Or, “What would the lyrics of a song about you that you made up sound like?” Tell them after they’ve listened to “Hail to the Chief” that this is the song that “best describes” our country’s presidents.
If they’re interested in learning more interesting knowledge, you can give them the “child version” of the following material from the Library of Congress: In 1815, when it was performed to celebrate the belated birth of George Washington (on his birthday) and the end of the War of 1812, the hymn “Hail to the Chief” was originally associated with America’s “Chief Executive” (a fancy way of saying U.S. President!). Later, it was performed for Presidents Martin van Buren and Andrew Jackson. However, this presidential custom got its start in 1841 when First Lady Julia Tyler, the spouse of President John Tyler, requested that the Marine Band play “Hail to the Chief” to signal the approach of the President. The Department of Defense founded in 1954
Salute to the Chief, whom we have appointed to lead the country! We all pay him a hearty salute.
As we promise to work together in proud response to a grand, noble call, hail to the Chief.
Our steadfast, unwavering faith is that you will achieve your goal of making this great nation even greater.
Salute to the President and the commander-in-chief we chose!
To the Chief, hail!
Salute to the Chief, whom we have appointed to lead the country! We all pay him a hearty salute.
As we promise to work together in proud response to a grand, noble call, hail to the Chief.
2. Indulge in a president’s preferred dessert.
Enjoy a presidential sweet treat after you sing to the presidents (or perhaps as you listen to the instrumental melody)! Check out the list of the presidents’ favorite desserts published by Bake Magazine to see if your political views and dessert preferences coincide. You have to admire George Washington, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Lyndon Johnson, and George H.W. Bush for naming their wives’ cooking instructions. Find out who selected apple pie and who selected blueberry pudding by looking at the list. You’ll also be amused to learn that Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, two presidents who preferred coconut desserts the most, shared a sweet tooth. Oh, the wonderful things we all have in common! wishing to further entice customers
3. Read one of these kids’ books, or all of them!
Make the most of the occasion by holding a presidential story time while your children are enjoying a delicious snack. To learn about some of our top recommendations, read this Primerrily Bookshelf article. Why not spend Presidents’ Day with your kids reading about the people who have governed the country we love since it falls immediately after Valentine’s Day this year?
4. Ask your kids what they would do if they were President
The U.S. President does not have unilateral power (thank you checks and balances and a three-branch system of government!) but Executive Orders do carry considerable weight. Check out this Primerrily article which invites your kid to imagine what she might do if she occupied the Oval Office.
5. Memorize the U.S. Presidents and the oath they’ve taken
If Steps 1-4 are not enough Presidential fun for you, then consider adding this additional challenge to your daily drive to school or during bath time: memorize America’s 46 presidents with this song. If you’re able to remember the first ten, we think you’ve earned the opportunity to repeat Step 2 (smile).
Recite the oath of office jointly in case your child is ever elected president and is added to this list (! ), just in case:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States,” the oath reads.