Patriot Day, observed each year on September 11, can be a challenging holiday for parents to explain to their children. Many moms and dads want to honor the day in a way that feels meaningful, but also worry about making it too heavy or frightening. If you’re wondering how to talk to your kids about 9/11, Patriot Day in an age-appropriate way, we’ve put together some tips and local ideas to help you guide the conversation with compassion and create positive family traditions of remembrance.

1. Why It's Important—In Simple, Honest Terms

September 11—or Patriot Day—is a sensitive topic. Use age-appropriate language helps:

• For younger kids, you might say: “On this day, many years ago, there was a terrible event that hurt a lot of people. Now we take a moment to remember them.”
• For older children, you can explain more details—about the bravery of first responders, and how communities across the country came together in kindness and strength.

Emphasize values like compassion, resilience, and community spirit—all of which are essential to the story of 9/11.

2. Local Ways to Reflect & Participate

Ventura’s Memorial Stair Climb

A powerful and symbolic event, the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb takes place annually—this year on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach (450 E. Harbor Blvd.). Participants climb the equivalent of the Twin Towers—110 flights of stairs—to honor first responders and community members affected by that day. The stair climb isn’t a race; it’s about remembrance and respect. 

This event:

• Honors the 343 FDNY firefighters, 60 law enforcement/emergency personnel, 55 military members, and 200+ more firefighters who later died from 9/11-related illnesses.
• Welcomes community members, including youth ages 13+, with adult registration. It costs $50 to participate, with proceeds supporting the Ventura Fire Honor Guard’s memorial work.

Altogether, it's a powerful family opportunity: watching the climb, discussing its meaning, and talking about service, sacrifice, and healing.

9/11 Memorial Blood Drive in Moorpark

Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 1–7 PM at Arroyo Vista Community Park in Moorpark.

Families with teens (aged 16 or older) can donate blood together, modeling compassion in action—helping others and honoring the spirit of unity that emerged in the wake of 9/11.

3. Other Quiet, Meaningful Ideas at Home or in the Community

If events don’t fit your family’s schedule or style, here are other heartfelt ways to mark the day:

• Light a candle at sunset and hold a moment of silence or words of tribute in a shared space at home.
• Visit a local landmark—like Ventura Pier or Serra Cross—and tie remembrance into the setting of community and natural beauty.
• Make something together—e.g., a DIY tribute board with messages of gratitude, kindness, or brief bios of brave people.
• Read or listen to music—select a children’s book or soothing song that honors courage or community.
• Write thank-you notes—perhaps to first responders, veterans, or others who serve the community.
• Volunteer—even small acts like helping at a food bank or cleaning up a local park demonstrate compassion in action.

4. Talking Tips for Parents

• Start simple, then add more context as your child’s understanding grows.
• Invite questions: “Do you want to talk about what you see or feel?” “Do you have any questions about what happened?”
• Be honest but reassuring—emphasize safety today and how people work together to keep each other strong.
• Connect lessons to daily life: highlight ways your family already lives through values like kindness, togetherness, and respect.

Teaching our kids about September 11 helps them understand not only a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, but also the values that carried people through it—courage, kindness, and community. By sharing the stories in ways they can grasp, we give them tools to process difficult topics while also highlighting the good that can rise from tragedy. This day doesn't need to be heavy—it can be a chance to teach empathy, memory, and hope, rooted in our family bonds. When we pass on these lessons, we ensure that the meaning of Patriot Day lives on through future generations.

When visiting events and local businesses, be sure to tell them Macaroni KID sent you... and don't forget to tell all your friends!