Hello all. One of the things my father, a history major and buff, did at an early age was instilling in me an intense interest in history. I have found the study of said fascinating since then. I would like to do so for my children as well. So, to my fellow parents, how did you instill an interest in history with your children? Have they continued to enjoy history into adulthood? Thanks.
What a wonderful question, @GearZ ! Now let's see if I can come up with a good answer. I'm trying to remember what gave a love of history to my daughter and I do believe it was more than one thing. It wasn't an all-encompassing "love of history" but rather little sections at a time. Her interest in the Great Depression years was sparked from a movie. She wanted to buy every book on the subject that I could find and it became a deep interest. Then she read the Diary of Anne Frank and the love of WWII history began. Again, every book, every movie (well, age-appropriate movie, that is) was adored. WWII blended into study of the concentration camps and Holocaust issues (rough thing to talk about with a child of sensitive nature!) Her love of the Civil War era was from as many trips to Gettysburg as I could possibly manage. After a while we added Antietam and stopped at places like Fredericksburg and Bentonville Battlefield while on the way to Florida each year. Bottom line... I'd recommend tactile things... if at all possible, let the children *touch* history. Cannons, battlegrounds, WWII memorials, Vietnam wall, Smithsonian treasures, Revolutionary areas... Williamsburg, Jamestown. SOOO many places to touch history in America. Oh yes, that's another one... my daughter's interest in very early history (pre-Revolution times) started after a stop at St. Simons Island, Georgia. She loved the places to see on the island and was able to try on a "red coat" and tricorn hat at the visitor center. And then Fort Frederica and Bloody Marsh, etc. And then there's St. Augustine, Florida... best place in the world. Castillo de San Marcos made of coquina... oldest city. Okay, that's all for now. Uh... if you're not in America, GearZ, please ignore 85% of what I just said.
Thank you for the great write up, Kate. Yes, I am in the United States. Good point about being able to see and touch "history". To a young mind, that will likely be more real than what is found in books. Though I know in my own youth I enjoyed history books. Granted, this was pre-web and we didn't have television, but I digress. Thanks again.
Well, since my boys are 3 and 6 they have shown a little interest in history but it is probably hard for them to understand some things. My oldest is enjoying castles and knights and stuff and I guess I could credit that to his Lego sets, lol. That being said though, he sure does like watching my old black and white war movies with me. In all honesty, I think they are the perfect movies for them both to be watching. Like when some one dies for example, instead of them getting their heads chopped off and there is blood all over the screen like in some of the newer movies, these deaths are more theatrical in nature and most of the time they hardly show blood, lol. John Wayne westerns are the best for this, lol.
You're very welcome, @GearZ . I hope your children develop the love of history that always sticks with them. Touching actual artifacts... priceless. That's one of the few things I don't like about most museums... like when I'm bumming around the Smithsonian, I always wish I could get PAST that glass or the ropes and touch those pieces of history. Uh... pre-web? You jest! There WAS a pre-web era? Hmmmm. Okay, okay, I'm teasing. I got my start on a BBS ('member those?!) about a bajillion and eleventy years ago. But that's another story for another time.
I haven't had children (yet) but what my parents did when I was younger was to buy me tons of books (including world history ones), World maps and we played trivia games all the time in my home. My siblings and I competed to memorize capital states, classic history and scientific names of dinosaurs. When you're teaching young children I think it's important to make it fun for them. Also, buy books with a lot of pictures so their imagination can run wild. If you're using tablets and computers download some educational games-- more history than Candy Crush ok.
