All about Labor Day for kids: learn what is Labor Day and why is Labor Day celebrated. Get Labor Day lessons, activities and craft ideas for this important patriotic holiday to celebrate with your family or even use as lesson plans in the classroom.
Lessons About Labor Day For Kids
Looking for why do we celebrate Labor Day kid version? Use this:
How do I explain Labor Day to my child?
Labor Day is a holiday that celebrates American workers. It started because a long time ago people (and even kids!) worked very long and very hard hours every single day in factories that weren’t very safe. The holiday came about because we wanted to take better care of our workers and help them be safe and healthy.
Labor Day Lessons for Kids
Labor Day Activity Ideas:
- Thank a community worker! Write thank you cards or appreciation cards to workers who help your family (teachers, postal service, delivery people, librarians, etc.)
- Make patriotic snacks while discussing the history of the holiday
- Get creative with patriotic crafts
- Discuss with kids the importance of taking times of rest from work and obligations
- Explore different jobs and careers with kids
- Fill a delivery basket to thank delivery people who are working over the weekend
- Read Labor Day children’s books to help kids understand why do we celebrate Labor Day in America
- Make a lemonade stand and discuss the principals of business
(Don’t miss our full Labor Day activities for kindergarten and up below!)
When is Labor Day 2021?
What day is labor day on: The Labor Day date for 2021 is Monday, September 6, 2021.
Labor Day Meaning & History
What is Labor Day and why do we celebrate it?
Labor Day is an official holiday that celebrates and honors workers in the United States. It is observed on the first Monday of September. Today, it also marks the end of summer and is celebrated with cookouts, parties, and parades.
When Is Labor Day?
When’s Labor Day weekend? Labor Day in the United States is celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor American workers.
Is Labor Day a federal holiday?
Labor Day is classified as a federal holiday. The Labor Day federal holiday was designated in 1894 during the Labor Movement of the 19th century.
Which president made Labor Day a national holiday?
President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day into a national (federal) holiday in 1894.
Labor Day Origin and Labor Day History
According to History.com, Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 by President Grover Cleveland.
The holiday came about because during this time many people, including children, worked long, hard days in factories seven days each week.
Not only that, the working conditions were often considered extremely unsafe.
The workers then began to protest and strike against those conditions.
On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history.
The Labor Day legislation was later made an official holiday “to repair ties with American workers.”
SEE A LABOR DAY HISTORY TIMELINE
How was the first Labor Day celebrated?
On Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, the United States celebrated the first Labor Day. There was a march from New York City Hall to Union Square and then a picnic where people gave speeches.
Learn more at the Library of Congress
Why is Labor Day celebrated in September?
Labor Day is celebrated in September because the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in September. The holiday just continued from there.
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When Is Memorial Day and Memorial Day for Kids
History Channel Labor Day Video
This is a great History Channel history of Labor Day for kids video to watch as part of your study unit.
Labor Day Traditions
In the United States, Labor Day is often the mark of the end of summer for many. It is often marked with parades, special events, and parties.
Many businesses are closed for Labor Day and some workers have the day off in order to enjoy a day of rest.
Most restaurants and many retail stores are still open and may even hold special Labor Day deals. Those employees, unfortunately, do not enjoy a day off for Labor Day.
A Labor Day tradition for many people is to have cookout and celebrate the day.
What do you do on Labor Day?
For a fun Labor Day weekend for kids and family:
- Take the day off!
- Rest
- Spend time with friends and family
- Have a cookout
- Join a street party of neighborhood cookout
- Go to a parade
- Look for local celebrations
- Visit a local park and play outdoor games
- Watch videos on the history of Labor Day
- Read books about Labor Day for kids
- Honor workers
Labor Day Quotes
Want a children’s message for Labor Day?
Be sure to include these Labor Day quotes with your studies for inspiration or for your craft projects and Labor Day fun for kids:
“No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi
“A hundred times every day, I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.” -Albert Einstein
Labor Day Facts and Labor Day History for Kids
Printables, Lessons and Classroom Activities to Teach About Labor Day
I love a good homeschool theme study unit, don’t you?
Have you considered adding Labor Day activities for students?
(It’s a holiday that many of us think of as a long, holiday weekend barbecue thing, but it’s so much more than that!)
Whether you’re looking for labor day homeschool lesson ideas or classroom worksheets, arts and crafts, Labor Day lesson plans kindergarten and up, Sunday School lessons, printables, or maybe some good old patriotic crafts or outdoor activities, there’s something for you on this Labor Day ideas for kids list!
- Learn more about the history of Labor Day in this printable
- Understand the history of child labor in this lesson plan
- Take a virtual field trip to the American Labor Museum
- Learn about union negotiations.
- Do a free Labor Day activity sheet
- Make a super easy layered patriotic dessert
- Play outdoor games
during your Labor Day cookout - Hold a lemonade stand and practice business skills
- Get a Labor Day writing activity
- Have fun with a Labor Day worksheet word search from Teachers Pay Teachers
- Do a Labor Day internet scavenger hunt from Education World
- Group homeschool project: create your own business from Education World
- Get a “Work for the Lord” lesson plan
- Download Labor Day lesson plans on unions from PBS
- Have fun with career thank you cards, hats, and puzzles from Education.com (good for younger ages)
- Research and learn more about careers from this extensive list on Career Kids
- Draw (or download) a paper doll and then dress him/her in different career uniforms like: mail carrier, artist, scientist, chef, architect, police officer, airline pilot
- Download and color this book of community workers where you can brainstorm on their different jobs
- Make a craft stick flag
- Create fireworks in a jar
- Make a Five Little Fire Fighters painting
- Make an easy (but super cool) flag wreath for your front door
- Create marble fireworks
- Make some patriotic popcorn
- Have a Labor Day scavenger hunt.
- Get a free Labor Day mini book for math.
- Grab Community Helpers matching puzzle
during your Labor Day cookout
and practice business skills
Labor Day Books for Kids
Here are kids’ Labor Day books to include with your studies:
Have fun learning all about Labor Day with kids!
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