Police Week Ideas for Families & Kids
Meaningful Ways to Honor Law Enforcement with Your Kids and Strengthen Your Own First Responder Home
Before we dive in: grab my free 3 Keys to Knowing He’s Got Your Back training so you and your police, fire, or military partner can feel deeply supported and on the same team at home every week of the year.
National Police Week is a meaningful time to honor the sacrifices of law enforcement officers and include your kids in showing appreciation for their dad's or mom's department. Alongside the family activities below, remember that the greatest way to support your officer at home is building Independent Daily Routines, practicing Gentle Observation when he walks in from a heavy shift, and protecting Consistent Quality Time Together with Assertive Trauma Informed Communication.
National Police Week is a time to remember those who were lost while protecting communities in law enforcement. Below are some excellent police week ideas for families and kids.
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Attend or Hold a Candlelight Vigil.
If you live in an urban setting, they may have a candlelight vigil at some time during National Police Week. If not, feel free to hold a candlelight vigil with friends and family to commemorate loved ones or losses in general of police officers in the line of duty. This can be as simple as lighting a candle and reciting a prayer on your own.
Decorate with a Thin Blue Line Wreath
In Washington D.C., there is an annual wreath laying to show respect for fallen law enforcement officers. Consider creating your own thin blue line wreath and hanging it on your door for National Police Week. Use blue ribbon (you can probably find at the dollar store) and follow these instructions to make an easy DIY TBL wreath. You can also buy a wreath here, like the one I have on my door.
Reading Ideas for Police Week
For young Children, I’d highly recommend reading detective books like Berenstein Bear’s Detective books.
If your child’s parent is a police officer, check out “My Daddy is a Police Officer.”
For school age Children, try Judy Moody Girl Detective.
For adults, check out a classic The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
For police wives, check out heelsandholster: a police wife devotional.
Visit a Police Museum with your Kids or Friends
Here is a list of Police Museums in each state. This activity will help you and your family/friends to appreciate the history of police work.
Appreciate Police Work by Solving a Mystery
Follow up your detective book reading with solving your own mystery.
For Children- Create a mystery to solve. For example, “who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?” Leave a couple of clues for them to find the culprit. Set up a police table for them with a magnifying glass, notepad, a fingerprint paper, and ink pad.
For Older Children and Adults- Try an “Escape Room in a Box”, a home-based board game where you have to solve a mystery together as a group.
Picture this:
During National Police Week and all year long, your kids feel proud and connected to your police, fire, or military family culture.
Even when he works overtime or memorial details, your Independent Daily Routines keep home life steady and joyful.
When he comes home carrying the weight of the job, you use Gentle Observation so he feels safe to relax and open up to you.
You use Assertive Trauma Informed Communication to express what you need without walking on eggshells or building resentment.
You protect Consistent Quality Time Together on his days off, knowing you truly have each other's backs.
Ready to feel like he’s got your back every week of the year? Start with my free 3 Keys to Knowing He’s Got Your Back training.
Listen to the Heels and Holster podcast on Spotify for more on thriving in police, fire, and military family life.