As a parent, you know
that your two most important tasks are to ensure that your children have days
filled with fun, love, and laughter and
that they get a good education. Getting a good knowledge of math, science and
English will certainly give them a great start in life, but subjects such as
history can be just as important. Learning about the past gives us a greater
understanding of our present and can prevent tomorrow's generation from making
yesterday's mistakes. If your kids find history boring, here are three ways to
raise their interest in what can be the most fascinating of subjects.
Turn History Time Into Play Time
Children today love
things that are visual and dynamic, which is why they love to look at the
screens on their cellphone or tablets so much. Studies show that mobile
screen usage in
children under eight has quadrupled since 2013, so they can quickly lose
patience when confronted with history on a printed page, even if it is
accompanied by lots of illustrations. It's easy to make history more exciting;
all it takes is a little imagination. Encourage your children to act out famous
scenes from history; they'll especially love it if they can dress up as George
Washington, Julius Caesar, or Queen Cleopatra, and they will be learning at the
same time as they're playing.
Discover Archive Film Footage
Increasing numbers of
museums are digitizing their archive films, which means that there's now a vast
array of films from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries available
to view online. This is especially attractive for children, as they are, after
all, the generation that turns to YouTube and similar sites as a primary
source of entertainment. Children and adults can learn a great deal from these archives, from
seeing early forms of motorized transport to how we used to farm, and the best
thing of all is that they can be viewed for free.
Explore America's Ancient
Civilizations
The continents of
North and South America were home to some of the greatest civilizations in
history, and with such rich and varied cultures behind them, they can be
endlessly fascinating for children. The Mayan people are a particularly
interesting topic, and their mysterious predictions of the end of the world
often appear in the news today. The Mayans disappeared rapidly and the reason
has always been a mystery, but as WallStreetOTC.com reports, the latest theory revolves around the
lagoon known as 'The Blue Hole of Belize'. Other theories involve aliens, so
whatever the truth, it's a story that's sure to capture the imagination of your
little ones.
The key to getting
your kids interested in history is to make it as exciting as possible; take a
look at some of the more unusual stories from history, encourage dressing up,
painting and make-believe, and encourage
them to see historical figures as real people not just names in a book. A love
of history gained in childhood stays with you throughout life, and that could
be one of the best gifts you ever give your loved ones.
