Remembrance Day: Teach The Kids So They Remember

November 11 rolls around each year with poppies pinned to coats, solemn moments of silence, and a heavy weight in the air. For many of us, it’s personal. We remember grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, and uncles who fought in wars that were supposed to be the “last.” We remember the stories—sometimes sanitized, sometimes brutal—about sacrifice, courage, and devastation.

But here’s the honest, ironic twist: we remember, and then—too often—we repeat.

War hasn’t ended with the signing of old treaties. As of late 2025, the list of global conflicts feels endless: Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, the eastern DRC, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the simmering tensions between India and Pakistan. And let’s not forget violence in Mexico, Nigeria, and Cameroon. For every “never again” we’ve whispered, there seems to be another breaking headline.

So the question nags: how do we teach our children to remember in ways that make them smarter, kinder, and braver than us?

Because let’s face it: the ceremonies, the poppies, the trumpets—they’re powerful. But without everyday lessons in kindness, empathy, and courage, we risk teaching ritual without meaning.

Breaking the News (Gently, and Developmentally Appropriately)

Kids aren’t oblivious. They hear the news. They see headlines scrolling on phones. They overhear adults talking. And sometimes, they see images that no child should see.

So, how do we explain Remembrance Day—and war itself—without overwhelming or terrifying them? Here’s a developmentally appropriate guide:

Ages 3–6 (Preschool to Early Elementary)
Keep it simple. Focus on the helpers. Talk about how soldiers, nurses, and communities worked to keep people safe. Use storybooks with strong visuals and gentle metaphors.
Example: “Remembrance Day is when we say thank you to people who worked very hard to make the world safe.”
Ages 7–11 (Later Elementary)
Kids are ready for nuance. You can talk about fairness, courage, and hard choices. Introduce the concept of peace as something that people work at—not just something that “happens.”
Example: “Wars happen when people can’t agree, but peace happens when people try very hard to listen and share.”
Ages 12–14 (Middle School)
They’re asking bigger questions. This is where you can bring in real history, but balance it with stories of peacemakers, activists, and problem-solvers. Help them see the whole story—not just the battles, but the rebuilding and reconciliation.
Ages 15+ (High School and Beyond)
Teenagers are ready to handle complexity, injustice, and current events. Be honest about the conflicts happening right now. But also give them tools: how to analyze news critically, how to advocate, and how to use their voice. They need hope alongside reality.

The Growth Mindset in the Face of War

War feels like the ultimate failure of humanity. But if we want our kids to believe they can do better, we have to model a growth mindset even here.

Instead of: “The world is violent. It’s always been this way.”
Try: “The world has had violence, but people have also created peace, justice, and fairness. We can learn from mistakes and do better.”
Instead of: “People never change.”
Try: “People can change. Nations can change. And it starts with individuals making small, kind choices.”

It’s the same lesson we try to teach when they mess up in school or on the playground: mistakes don’t define you. What matters is what you learn and do next.

Could We Start With Kindness?

Yes. Always, yes.

Remembrance Day isn’t just about remembering the dead. It’s about remembering the living—the families broken, the survivors who carried trauma, the children who grew up in rubble.

And kindness is something even the youngest child can practice.

Sharing toys.
Standing up to bullies.
Helping a new kid at school.
Asking, “Are you okay?” and meaning it.

These small acts are the first building blocks of peace. They may not make the headlines, but they plant seeds.

Making It Real

Ceremonies are powerful, but kids need experiences to anchor meaning. Here are some ways to make Remembrance Day lessons real:

Visit a memorial or museum – and then talk about it afterward in age-appropriate ways.
Create art or poetry – kids process big emotions through creativity.
Write letters to veterans – or thank-you notes to peacekeepers, humanitarian workers, or even teachers and community helpers.
Connect globally – learn about traditions of remembrance in other countries. (In Japan, for example, Hiroshima and Nagasaki peace ceremonies focus on “Never Again.”)
Balance war stories with peace stories – for every battle tale, tell the story of someone who advocated for reconciliation or nonviolence.

Humour and Humanity

Yes, even in the shadow of something as solemn as Remembrance Day, humour has its place. Because humour is human.

Think about it: soldiers in trenches cracked jokes to survive unbearable conditions. Families in war zones cling to laughter as proof they’re still alive. Humour doesn’t erase pain—it gives us a breath of relief in the middle of it.

So when your child asks an awkward question—like, “If soldiers wear camouflage, why do we always see them on TV?”—don’t scold. Laugh. Then explain. That laugh, paired with the lesson, will stick.

A Culturally Diverse Lens

Remembrance Day in Canada and the UK focuses heavily on the World Wars. But when we widen the lens, we remember that war—and peace—are global.

Indigenous peoples in Canada served in WWI and WWII despite not having full citizenship rights at home. Their stories are part of remembrance too.
Immigrants often carry memories of conflict from their countries of origin—Vietnam, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and more. Their experiences matter in how we teach children about resilience and survival.
Around the world, remembrance looks different: candles in Poland, poppies in Britain and Canada, white peace cranes in Japan, and cultural dances in African nations.

When we acknowledge this diversity, we teach our kids that remembrance isn’t a single story. It’s a patchwork quilt of humanity, stitched with both grief and hope.

Interactive Thrive Momma Community Chat

💬 Let’s Talk:

How do you explain Remembrance Day to your children?
Have you found a story, book, or tradition that really resonated?
What’s the hardest question your child has ever asked about war or peace?
How does your cultural background shape how you approach remembrance?
What’s one act of kindness your child has done recently that gave you hope?

Closing Thought

Every year we say “Lest we forget.” But what if we also said: “So that they may learn.”

Remembrance Day isn’t about glorifying war—it’s about giving our children the tools to imagine something better. To teach them that remembrance without action is just nostalgia.

If their generation is going to be smarter than ours—and I believe they can be—it will start with small lessons in kindness, empathy, and courage.

Because maybe the best way to honour those who fell is to raise kids who stand taller—not on battlefields, but in classrooms, communities, and conversations where peace is built.