Explaining Pride Month to Kids: Celebrating Love, Acceptance, and Family Together
- Leigh Bates
- Jun 15
- 3 min read
Pride Month is a time to celebrate love, diversity, and equality. For families with young kids, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to teach values like kindness, acceptance, and respect.
At Creative Counseling Colorado, we believe that helping children understand the importance of Pride Month can foster empathy and inclusivity, creating a more connected and compassionate family. Here’s how you can explain Pride Month to your kids and celebrate it together.
What is Pride Month?
Pride Month takes place every June to honor the LGBTQ+ community and their fight for equality. It’s a time to celebrate the right to love who you love, be who you are, and express yourself freely. Pride also commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
For kids, you can explain Pride in simple terms:
• “Pride Month is about celebrating people for who they are and making sure everyone feels loved and respected.”
• “It’s also a time to remember how hard people have worked to make sure everyone can be treated equally, no matter who they love or how they identify.”
How to Explain the Importance of Pride Month to Kids
1. Focus on Values They Understand
Use language and concepts your kids are familiar with. Frame the discussion around fairness, kindness, and love. For example, you might say:
“Sometimes people haven’t been treated kindly because of who they love or how they live. Pride Month reminds us to stand up for fairness and to celebrate all the ways people are special and unique.”
2. Answer Questions Openly
Kids are naturally curious and may ask questions about gender, love, or why Pride is celebrated. Be honest and age-appropriate in your answers, emphasizing that it’s okay for people to be different and everyone deserves respect.
3. Introduce Representation
Books, movies, and shows featuring LGBTQ+ characters can help kids understand diversity. Representation helps normalize inclusivity and opens up conversations about why celebrating all types of families and identities is important.
4. Encourage Empathy
Talk about how they would feel if someone treated them unfairly for being themselves. Empathy builds their understanding of why Pride Month matters and why everyone deserves to feel safe and accepted.
How to Celebrate Pride Month as a Family
1. Attend a Pride Event
Check out family-friendly Pride parades or community events in your area. These celebrations are vibrant and fun, filled with music, dancing, and messages of love and inclusion.
2. Create a Pride Craft Together
Get creative as a family by making rainbow flags, bracelets, or paintings. Crafts are a fun way to teach younger kids about the meaning behind the rainbow as a symbol of diversity and inclusion.
3. Read Inclusive Books
Introduce your kids to books like Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman or Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. These stories can spark conversations about love, acceptance, and celebrating differences.
4. Watch an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Movie
Choose age-appropriate films with LGBTQ+ themes, such as The Bravest Knight or Out on Disney+. Afterward, discuss the characters and the themes of the story.
5. Volunteer or Donate
Teach your children the value of giving back by supporting LGBTQ+ organizations. Volunteering or donating as a family demonstrates the importance of standing up for equality and inclusion.
6. Reflect on Family Values
Use Pride Month as an opportunity to reflect on your family’s values. Share why love, kindness, and equality are important to you and how they shape your family’s actions.
Why Celebrating Pride Month Matters
Teaching kids about Pride Month isn’t just about educating them on LGBTQ+ rights—it’s about fostering a culture of love and respect in your family. By celebrating Pride together, you’re showing your kids the importance of standing up for others and embracing diversity.
How Creative Counseling Colorado Can Help
If you’re looking for ways to navigate conversations about inclusivity, identity, or family values, Creative Counseling Colorado is here to help. We offer guidance to families seeking to foster deeper connections, empathy, and understanding. Reach out to us.
Celebrate Love and Inclusion
Pride Month is a beautiful time to celebrate what makes every individual special. By teaching your children about the importance of Pride and celebrating as a family, you’re helping to create a world that’s kinder and more inclusive.
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