Read simple stories to the child to help her understand the history of black people in the United States. You can choose any story, although some of the more famous subjects are Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.. Explain to the child why Rosa Parks wanted to stay in her seat and why people at the time couldn't sit together. This will help the three-year-old to understand the concepts and ideas of black history.
Although many of the themes of Black History Month may be lost on a preschool-age child, teaching him about important figures will help him to gain a knowledge base. Print out a picture of a famous black person from history and have the child color it in. The Apples 4 the Teacher website (see Resources) has templates of black figures from history that you can print out and use as coloring tools. As your child colors, you can explain to him about the person.
Play music for the three-year-old and let her tell you about what it sounds like. Play jazz by artists such as Louis Armstrong and tell her about the origins of jazz and the way in which it is different from other music. Jazz music is closely linked to black culture of the south and is part of a musical process that began with slave songs and culminates in modern hip-hop. Playing such music for your child will get her used to the music and provide her with an understanding of the evolution of black culture.
Teach your children about the values associated with ending racism and discrimination, such as judging people equally regardless of color. Talk about the value of a peaceful resolution of conflict, espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr. and about how he achieved his aims in the face of oppression. Talking to your child about these values will allow him to form a basic knowledge of anti-prejudicial thinking, which will allow him to understand more grown-up themes as he become older.