How to Celebrate Solstices and Equinoxes With Children

The summer and winter solstices occur are when the plain of the equator is closest to and farthest away from the sun, respectively. When the equator is closest to the sun during the summer solstice, we experience the longest day towards the end of June in the Northern Hemisphere. Likewise, the shortest day is during the the winter solstice at the end of December. The equinoxes mark the beginning of spring and fall. They occur during March and September. An equinox is when there is the same amount of sunlight as there is darkness during one day. The solstices and equinoxes are unknown to children. In fact, some have never heard the terms before. Learning and celebrating the solstices and equinoxes is a great way to bring your children closer to the universe and science. Use this guide to help you celebrate these four dates during the year.

Things You'll Need

• calendar
• yellow fruits and vegetables
• dark fruits and vegetables

Instructions

1. Talk to your children about the calendar. In fact, place a calendar in their bedrooms. Each morning when they wake up, have them cross off the previous day and tell you what day of the month today is. Mark the summer and winter solstices, as well as the spring and fall equinoxes.

2. Watch the sunset and stay up a little later than usual during the solstices. The summertime is a great time to show your children how late it is until the sun goes down. During the winter, however, play board games inside and show them how dark it gets early in the day. Tell them that in some parts of the world it is beginning to get dark during the afternoon.

3. Eat yellow and orange foods during the spring equinox and summer solstice. The bright yellow and orange colors are meant to represent the sun. Bananas and yellow squash are perfect. Eat dark foods during the fall Equinox and winter solstice. This should represent the shortening days with less sunlight. Raisins and broccoli work well.

4. Serve all food in half during the fall and spring equinoxes. Only serve half sandwiches, grapes, pancakes, bananas, and half glasses of milk. This is a fun way to remind children that the equinox means half sunlight and half darkness.

5. Go on a walk during the summer solstice. The Celtic tradition believes this is the time when you are more likely to see fairies. Let your children's imagination run wild. Point out a fairy and, when they turn to look, tell them it just flew away. Have fun with it.

Tips & Warnings

• Teaching your children about the solstices and equinoxes is a great way to begin introducing them to the months of the year.

• Don't give your children all yellow and dark candy and sweet treats. Try plums for dark and oranges for light.