How children of all ages can celebrate Black History Month

In the United States (and Canada!), Black History Month is celebrated throughout the month of February. In fact, 2026 marks 110 years since a formal awareness week first happened in February 1916! 

Why should early childhood educators celebrate Black History Month?

Though the children in your program may not fully grasp the vast inequities faced by Black Americans from long-term systemic racism, celebrating Black History Month matters for reasons that reach far beyond a single month or a single classroom.

• It helps kids understand and appreciate differences. We shouldn't wait until kids ask us about race. Research shows that babies as young as 3 months start to show preferences for people of one race. As an educator, you play a crucial role in giving children the language and tools to describe and appreciate differences in a positive way.
• It helps families feel safe and seen. By celebrating different cultures authentically, you're showing families that your program values diversity and creates space where everyone belongs.
• It's a natural fit for child-led learning. Highlighting Black leaders and cultural contributions is a perfect opportunity to let kids' interests take the lead. For example, children who love space may be fascinated by astronaut Mae Jemison, while your classroom artists might enjoy recreating the vibrant works of Alma Thomas.

So, how do you celebrate Black History Month with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers? Glad you asked! Enjoy some of these activities that you can find in the Activity Builder in Famly. The activity builder is a library of ideas and activities you can use with the children at your site. You are able to 'like' and comment on the activities you discover, save a copy to your library, edit and use!

What are the best Black History Month activities for infants?

Infants are learning to explore their world through each of their senses. To celebrate Black History Month in a way that babies can appreciate, think about how you can engage taste, touch, sound, smell, and sight.

Black History Month for babies 

by Georgia Atlanta Beswick

What you'll need

• Culture books
• sensory materials
• dolls
• puppets

Invite infants to experience different sights and sounds with these sensory elements:  

Storytime with diverse books: Read picture books featuring African-American characters and stories by Black authors.

Music and movement: Play music by iconic Black musicians, such as jazz from Louis Armstrong, soul music from Aretha Franklin, or gospel.

Art exploration with African patterns: Set up a simple art activity using African-inspired patterns or bold colors.

Sensory play with cultural fabrics: Provide sensory play using different textures of fabrics.

Interactive puppets or Ddolls: Use puppets or dolls that represent diverse cultures and ethnicities.

Celebrate with a "taste" of history: While babies are still exploring food, you can introduce them to baby-friendly versions of dishes inspired by African American culture, like mashed sweet potatoes or soft-cooked collard greens.

What are the best Black History Month activities for toddlers? 

Toddlers are busy, curious, and ready to explore! To celebrate Black History Month with toddlers, use a variety of hands-on materials and movement-based activities that bring lessons to life.

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Elijah McCoy train tray 

by Chelsea Hawkins 

What you'll need:

• Soil, natural materials, and sand
• Numbered stones
• Train track set
• Toy trains
• Woodland animals
• Autumn forest items

Children learn about Black inventor Elijah McCoy, who contributed to the development of the steam train. They'll drive toy trains along the track, exploring different woodland-themed scenes with animals and nature resources. As they play, they'll also search for number stones and match them to the correct number of objects in the tray to combine early math skills with history.

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Exploring Black hair 

by Archana Figredo

What you'll need

• Printed silhouette images of Black hairstyles 
• Pom poms, buttons, feathers, sequins, or other manipulatives 
• Gluesticks 
• The book Madam C.J. Walker: Beauty Boss by Janel Rodriguez (similar titles about Black hair history and care) 
• Tray or table for setup 
• Labels for zones: Black History, Hair Care, Beauty Products

This hands-on activity invites children to explore and celebrate Black hair textures, styles, and culture through creative play. Children decorate printed hairstyle silhouettes using various craft materials, promoting self-expression and cultural awareness.

In the center of the activity is a book about Madam C.J. Walker, a pioneering African American entrepreneur in hair care. Children can learn about her legacy and the historical context of hair and beauty in the Black community.

The tray is divided into sections:

• Black history: Learn about the cultural and historical significance of Black hair.
• Hair care: Introduce basic grooming and appreciation of different hair types.
• Beauty products: Play with creative expression using pretend beauty items and decoration.

What are the best Black History Month activities for preschoolers? 

Preschoolers are ready for longer discussions and more complex activities than infants and toddlers. Use these activities to engage three- and four-year-olds with Black History Month in meaningful ways. 

Making bracelets

What you’ll need:

• Scissors
• String or yarn

Discussed how different cultures often have different colors associated with them, including the flag for Black History Month. Then, we created friendship bracelets allowing children to pick 3 different colors to create their own one, then carefully using scissors the children cut their pieces of wool so they had three long pieces. Demonstrate how to form braids using the three bits of thread. You can also discuss how some people use this technique on their hair. We discussed how in some cultures when these bracelets are being made they are blessed with a prayer. Children can then choose to either wear their bracelets on their wrists or ankles. They enjoyed helping each other put their bracelets on their wrist, practicing tying knots.

Discuss how different cultures often have different colors associated with them, including the Pan-African flag colors used during Black History Month (red, black, and green). Then, create friendship bracelets by allowing children to pick three different colors. Demonstrate how to braid using the three pieces of thread. You can also discuss how some people use this technique on their hair, and how in some cultures, bracelets are made with prayers or blessings woven into them. 

Children can choose to wear their bracelets on their wrists or ankles. They'll enjoy helping each other tie knots and put their bracelets on.

African patterns

by Claire Lyons

What you’ll need:

• Pens
• Paper or cloth
• Book that features African patterns

Read a book that features different African patterns and art (check out this blog for ideas but there are tons out there!). Discuss the different patterns, what makes them unique, and where they come from. Then, ask children to create their own patterns using different materials. Provide pre-cut paper shapes so children can arrange and glue them. To take this a step further, ask children if they can recognize an AB pattern or create their own repeating pattern.

Looking for more ideas for Black History Month? 

Famly's Activity Library is packed with educator-created activities you can filter by age, theme, developmental area, and learning framework. Browse thousands of activities shared by educators around the world and filter by what matters to you, whether it’s by age group, theme, or developmental focus. Save activities to your library with one click and customize them for your classroom.

Once you do an activity, be sure to add photos and any child observations directly with families to show-off those amazing social, emotional, and cognitive skills in action! Whether you're planning for Black History Month, prepping your spring curriculum, or looking for a last-minute rainy day activity, the Activity Library has you covered. If you don’t have Famly yet, you can try it free for 14-days to make lesson planning faster and more collaborative. 

Making Black History Month meaningful all year long

Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity to introduce young children to diverse stories, leaders, and traditions. By starting early and making space for honest, age-appropriate conversations about race and difference, you're helping children build the foundation for empathy, curiosity, and respect that will last a lifetime.