Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to honor the life and legacy of a hero who fought for justice, equality, and kindness. What better way to celebrate this special day than by involving your kids in activities that help them understand Dr. King’s message and inspire them to make a difference? Whether you're crafting, reading, or heading down to Houston for one of the parades, there are plenty of easy and meaningful ways to teach your children about his vision for a better world.
MLK Jr. Day is Monday, January 19, 2026. The kids are out of school, and I hope you have the day off from work. Here are some ideas that can make this day both educational and memorable for the whole family. Specific events listed can be found on our Events Calendar.
- Jan. 17 (Saturday) - Honor the legazy MLK Jr with music, a Peace March, a speech reenactment, and more at the Children's Museum of Houston. See details.
- Jan. 17 (Saturday) - Attend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at Cypress Creek Christian Community Center (2:00pm). See details.
- Jan 18 (Sunday) – Attend the annual MLK Jr celebration at The Woodlands Methodist Church (4:00pm). See details.
- Jan 19 – Attend the MLK Unity Parade in Downtown Houston. See details.
- Jan 19 - This isn't an MLK Day event, but in case you need an option for your kids while you're at work, iCode is offering a full day (9am - 4pm) camp, with 3 options to choose from: Drone Coding, Claymation Creation, Minecraft Designer. CLICK HERE to learn more.
- Volunteer together or organize a food / jacket / blanket drive. Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center (Humble) is having a volunteer event for ages 10 & up on January 19, 10am-12pm. Details here.
- Make an "I Have a Dream" poster or a “peace sign” craft. (Tape the peace sign onto a paper plate, then paint the plate. Once the paint is dry, peel off the tape to reveal the peace sign.)
- Watch a video of King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech. Here’s one of many available on YouTube:
- Watch the Oscar-winning film “Selma” or other films about MLK Jr.
- Read picture books about MLK Jr. Here are our Editor’s picks:
- Talk with your kids about racial inequality and MLK Jr’s dream, and encourage them to share their own dreams with you.
