Flag Etiquette for Kids

Flag etiquette for kids is one of the unique skills that should be a part of your homeschool history lessons. It’s one of those American history activities that makes history fun for tweens.

When I was a kid, we always had a United States flag flying at our house. The flag, and all it stands for, has always been very important to my dad. As we would raise the flag together, my dad would share what the flag meant to him along with tips for how to care for the flag.

Over the years, I have been proud to pass this information along to my own children. It was one of the many life skills I taught them.

Teaching Kids Life Skills: Flag Etiquette

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We display the flag on holidays and on special occasions. And, in our history lessons, we have reviewed flag etiquette and practiced the proper procedures for handling and folding the flag.

During a recent visit to Washington, DC, we even planned our first stop around the flag. We visited the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to see The Star-Spangled Banner exhibit and learn more about the 200-year-old flag that inspired Francis Scott Key.

Teaching Kids Life Skills: Flag Etiquette

Flag Etiquette All Kids Should Know

It is important to share our country’s customs and national symbols with children of all ages. One of my favorite resources for flag etiquette is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Celebrating Americas Freedoms site.

Here you will find the following printable documents to share with your family:

  • Correct Method of Folding the United States Flag
  • Flying the American Flag at Half Staff
  • Guidelines for Display of the Flag
  • Old Glory
  • Origins of Flag Day
  • Pledge of Allegiance
  • Star-Spangled Banner
  • The United States Flag

If your middle or high school students would like to read something closer to original source material, be sure to share The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions. This report includes the United States “Flag Code.”

Teaching Kids Life Skills: Flag Etiquette

Flag Etiquette in Practice

Summer is a great time to celebrate the American flag with your children.

If you don’t already own one, purchase an American flag and teach your children how to properly handle and fold the flag. Then help them find a special place in your home you can proudly display the flag.

You can also pick up a few books about the flag to help your kids can learn all about this national symbol.

Attend a special event in your community to celebrate Flag Day or July 4th and notice all the flags on display.

Listen to music about the flag. One of our favorite places to hear patriotic music is with the Voices of Liberty at The American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot.

The flag is an important symbol of our country, and it’s important that you spend some time during your American history studies learning all about it.

4th of July Activities

Aside from teaching kids about the American flag, there are lots of fun things to do to celebrate.

Have you taught flag etiquette to your kids?

3 Comments

  1. Sweet! I did a flag post just the other day myself! Happy Flag Day, Susan & Megan! 🙂

  2. Pingback: Honoring Our Flag | Eva Varga

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