Remembrance Day explained for kids
Updated 31 October 2026 · By Rob and Chris, two Sheffield dads, and our families
Remembrance Day is when we remember the people who served in the two world wars and later wars, and their sacrifice, with a poppy and a two-minute silence at 11am. In 2026 that’s Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, and Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November.
When is Remembrance Day 2026?
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Remembrance Sunday, 8 November 2026 | The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London, starts at 11am, with a two-minute silence marked by guns fired on Horse Guards Parade. You can watch it on the BBC, ITV and Sky. Your town may hold its own service too. |
| Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November 2026 | A two-minute silence at 11am, “at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month”. Your child’s school may hold one too. |
How do you explain Remembrance Day to a child?
These are our own suggested words. Go at your child’s pace, keep it honest and simple, and let their questions lead.
- Ages 3 to 5: “A long time ago there were big wars. Lots of people were very brave, and some of them died. Once a year we stay quiet for two minutes to think about them and say thank you.”
- Ages 6 to 8: Add that the First World War ended with an armistice on 11 November 1918, which is why we stop at 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month.
- Ages 9 to 11: Add that the first two-minute silence was on Armistice Day 1919, at the request of King George V, and that Cenotaph means “empty tomb”. We also remember people who served in later wars, and today’s Armed Forces community.
- Ages 12 and up: Read “In Flanders Fields”, written by John McCrae in May 1915, and talk about what it says.
If your family has someone who serves or has served, children may have their own questions. In our view it’s fine to say “I don’t know, let’s find out together.”
Why do we wear poppies?
After the battlefields of the First World War were shelled again and again, poppy seeds brought to the surface began to sprout. The Royal British Legion says the red poppy remembers the sacrifices of those who have served, supports today’s Armed Forces community, and stands for hope for a peaceful future. Wearing one is a personal choice.
How can children take part at home?
- Watch the start of the Cenotaph service together on Sunday morning.
- Practise being still for two minutes with a timer the day before. It feels long the first time.
- Make a paper poppy: red paper petals, a black centre, a green paper stem.
- Visit your local war memorial and read a few names together.
- Draw a picture or write a thank-you card for someone who served.
These are our ideas. Little ones can join in with the making and the walk, even if the silence is too long for them.
How do you keep a two-minute silence with a toddler?
Honestly, you may not. In our experience, holding hands, sitting on a lap, or watching the second hand on a clock helps. If they talk, a quiet “shh, we’re thinking” is enough. Nobody expects a 2 year old to be silent.
Our Remembrance plan
Fill it in together, then pin it up for the week.
Or use your browser’s Print. Only this sheet prints.
| When | What we’ll do | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 7 November | Practise two minutes of quiet with a timer | |
| Saturday 7 November | Make our paper poppies | |
| Sunday 8 November, 10:45am | Watch the Cenotaph service, or walk to our war memorial | |
| Sunday 8 November, 11am | Two-minute silence | |
| Wednesday 11 November, 11am | Two-minute silence at school or at home | |
| Any day | A question we want to find out about: |
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Questions parents ask
When is Remembrance Sunday 2026?
Sunday 8 November 2026. The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London starts at 11am, with a two-minute silence, and is shown on the BBC, ITV and Sky.
When is Armistice Day 2026?
Wednesday 11 November 2026. There is a two-minute silence at 11am, at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
What is the difference between Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day?
Armistice Day is always 11 November, the date the First World War armistice came into effect in 1918. Remembrance Sunday is the national day of services, held on a Sunday in November. Both have a two-minute silence at 11am.
Why do we wear poppies?
Poppies grew on the shelled battlefields of the First World War. The Royal British Legion says the red poppy remembers the sacrifices of those who have served, supports today’s Armed Forces community and stands for hope for a peaceful future. Wearing one is a personal choice.
How do I explain Remembrance Day to a 5 year old?
Keep it short and gentle, for example: a long time ago there were big wars, lots of people were very brave and some died, and once a year we stay quiet for two minutes to think about them and say thank you.
More from Famoo
Put 11am on the family calendar
In Famoo, the whole family’s week is in one place, so Sunday’s service and Wednesday’s silence don’t get lost among clubs and homework.
Famoo is a family app for UK homes, in beta, so things may change.
Where this comes from
Each fact on this page links to one of these. Everything else is our own view from our families.
- GOV.UK, National Service of Remembrance: Sunday 8 November 2026, checked 31 October 2026
- Royal British Legion, About Remembrance, checked 31 October 2026
- Royal British Legion, The poppy and Remembrance, checked 31 October 2026
- Imperial War Museums, Remembrance, checked 31 October 2026
- Imperial War Museums, What is the Cenotaph?, checked 31 October 2026
- Imperial War Museums, First World War key facts, checked 31 October 2026
