March is Women’s History Month, and although I am not a mother of girls, I am the product of all of the strong women that have raised me, crossed my path, or inspired me. Later this month, I’ll be creating a Women’s History Month campaign with a local flair, and I cannot wait to share that with you!
The other day, I was sharing with Big that it was Women’s History Month, and he asked if there was a Men’s History Month. We had an honest discussion about this and the plight of women and minorities in our country. It wasn’t our first discussion of its kind, and it won’t be the last, but it was a great reminder that if we wish to change the world for future generations, we must continue doing the work to teach our children about these things.
With this post, I’m hoping to inspire you to spend some time this month celebrating inspirational females even if you aren’t the mother of girls. In the words of Maya Angelou, “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” So today, we’re going to do just that as we share five kid-friendly ways to celebrate Women’s History Month!
1.Visit your local Jackson District Library branch to check out books about strong and trailblazing women. The options here are endless! Here are a few that we highly recommend:
2. Visit the Ella Sharp Museum and Historic Farmlane to learn about Jackson’s female trailblazer. Ella Sharp was a Jackson native who was quite educated, well-traveled and doing things that most women at her time did not do. Ella is known for her work in forestry and civic improvement, and she is well known by name in Jackson, thanks to the namesake park that she left to the city through her will. You can visit the house that Ella grew up in, explore other historical buildings, and so much more. Watch this video from JTV before your visit to learn all about this amazing woman.
3. Have your kiddos mail a thank-you note to a woman they admire. Not only will the recipient love getting mail, but this is also a chance for kiddos to practice their writing skills, practice gratitude, and celebrate the women in their lives. Are you writing to someone famous? You just never know when you will get a response back! Use the following link to download our special Wonder and Wander – Jackson stationery to print and write on!
4. Visit the HerStory Center in Lansing, Michigan. Also known as the Michigan Women’s Historical Center, the HerStory Center is managed by Michigan Women Forward. The center features the Women’s Hall of Fame and is currently hosting the SHESPOKE exhibit featuring ArtPrize Artist K.W. Bell. The museum is currently on modified hours due to staffing, but you can visit this website to schedule a tour.
5. Take your kiddos along to shop at a woman-owned business. Jackson County is host to a collection of strong women business owners, so what better way to celebrate women than by supporting them at their businesses! We have featured some women-owned businesses here previously, like FarmSudz and Kate’s Art School, and can’t wait to feature more soon! If you follow us on social media, you’re sure to see us share some more amazing women-owned businesses there, too!
