Here on 365 Days of Literacy for Kids, your kids will be “dressed” with IDIOMS during the month of September.

IDIOMS are phrases that reveal “secrets” from the past. IDIOMS come from many sources, many languages, many authors, many cultures.  The “hidden” meanings in IDIOMS are great fun for kids, but also teach important, interesting and intriguing lessons in how language has developed and evolved over time.

Each SEPTEMBER IDIOM on 365 Days of Literacy for Kids will address something to do with clothing… such as teaching kids the meaning of the very chivalric knight in shining armour idiom.

– The idiom knight in shining armour refers to a person, generally thought of as a man, who gallantly and with great chivalry comes to the aid of a woman.

– Origin of knight in shining armour Idiom:  Knight in shining armour is a term traced back to the 18th century when there were knights who did wear amour for protection in battle or tournament… and the most wealthy and noble of these knights made sure their armour was polished and clean to shining.

A knight was often raised to military rank by the king and awarded his position on merit or service to the crown or country.  He was in excellent physical shape and well-armed with his military equipment.  The image of a knight in shining armour coming to the aid of a woman in distress is a romanticized image that’s still popular today… in things as cordial and courteous as opening a door, offering a seat, holding an umbrella, changing a tire.  Will your boys be awarded the honorable position of knight?

Dress your kids for back-to-school success with knowledge and attention to knight in shining armour.

Take a few minutes each day in SEPTEMBER to teach the secrets of IDIOMS to your kids & grandkids.  Understanding IDIOMS is a wonderful way to enrich reading and language development.

And I’m not just talking through my hat!