11 WAYS TO CELEBRATE Martin Luther King Day with Your Kids in Boston and Beyond

Boston is a special place to celebrate MLK Day, his life, and legacy. Dr. King was in Boston when he met his wife, Coretta Scott King, and earned his Ph.D. in Theology at Boston University. He viewed Boston as his second home.

  1. Watch or listen to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches. This is an inspiring activity for older kids and teens. The “I Have a Dream” speech is about 17 minutes long; you can listen to or watch it on YouTube along with some of Dr. King’s other famous speeches. Follow up with a discussion about what Dr. King’s message means to your child and you.
  2. Visit local monuments and exhibitions or attend celebrations created in honor of Dr. King. Visit the Roxbury Love Story mural created to honor where Dr. King met his future wife, Coretta Scott. Attend the Annual MLK Memorial Breakfast, visit for free (MA residents) MLK Day at the MFA, walk the Black Heritage Trail, or take in the MLK Tribute Concert by Boston Children’s Chorus and explore the many cross-cultural events, exhibitions, sightseeing trails and more.
  3. Read a book or watch a movie about diversity, equity, and inclusion. You can honor Dr. King’s legacy by choosing children’s books about anti-racism, social justice, etc.
  4. Talk about racial inequality and social justice with your child. Research shows that talking with children about these topics has a lasting positive impact on a child’s development.
  5. Read a children’s book about Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. Your local library is an excellent resource for these.
  6. For younger kids, make a “Peace” craft. Use art and creativity to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of peace and love. Draw and color peace signs to hang in your window, paint a dove using your child’s handprint, or create a heart garland to drape over the front door.
  7. Plant a tree as a living tribute to MLK. While planting, discuss King’s belief that a society grows great when men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Progress, like a tree, needs time to take root.
  8. Create your own day of service. Consider the day as a “day on not a day off.” Americorps has been leading the charge for the last quarter century. Visit americorps.com with your child and learn how to create your own event. Encourage kids in your community to volunteer and be of service because serving others has a profound positive benefit on those who volunteer.
  9. Discuss your kids’ dreams. Talking to your children about their hopes and dreams, both big and small, will be a meaningful catalyst for important family discussions.
  10. Attend the MLK Jr. Day in D.C. virtually. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously proclaimed, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do… you have to keep moving forward.” This year, your family can follow along virtually with the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk Parade in Washington, DC, in person.
  11. Learn about MLK and the amazing work of King Boston through posts, blogs, and community events. Visit KingBoston.org. 
  12. Discover the cultural significance of  The Embrace, a world-class memorial on the Boston Common unveiled in 2023. Learn about the vital work of Embrace Boston.