Living Books for Labor Day

"Nothing will work unless you do."
— Maya Angelou

If you are home educating your children, they see you work. They see you tidy your home, prepare meals, garden, care for clothing, and much more. Many of our ancestors lived difficult lives filled with arduous labor. Their work enables us to look back at history over time and see the shift from laborious factory jobs and dirty coal mines at 5 and 6 years old, to the wonder filled and delight driven childhood we attempt to offer our children today.

Let’s encourage the ones in our care to view work as important, as enjoyable, and necessary. If everyone does their part, so much is accomplished, and everyone can enjoy the fruit of their labors.

The books on this list might be helpful as you delve into this topic with your children. Learning the history of Labor Day can be a catalyst for more conversations with your children as you busy yourself with tasks about the house.

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel
A Day's Work by Eve Bunting
Someone Builds The Dream by Lisa Wheeler
The Bobbin Girl by Emily Arnold McCully
Judy's Journey by Lois Lenski
Kid Blink Beats the World by Don Brown
Night Job by Karen Hesse
On Our Way to Oyster Bay: Mother Jones and Her March for Children's Rights by Monica Kulling

So, what “work” do you include your little ones in? Our Preschool curriculum includes so many ways your children can join in the family labor and help get things done in a meaningful and rewarding way!