Tips for teaching history to children

Teaching history to children is not an easy task. The difficulty is not because history as a subject is complicated, but simply because there is a lot to cover. Broaching the subject takes a lot of time, as human history is massive. With recorded human history totaling well over 5,000 years, to put it simply, there is no easy way to go over it with relative ease. It can be an intimidating endeavor for parents who want to teach the subject to their children. Simply finding a point to start from can be an overwhelming exercise. How can parents make sure that whatever the point they decide to start from, the child will be able to retain the knowledge?

One simple method that can simplify teaching history to children is starting with the local history. Where the parents and children live can be a great starting point for an initial foray into history. Starting with their own family's lore and historical traditions can be a great starting point. Making the teaching interactive, so the child can participate by investigating on their own about the family history can have a lasting impact.

So, what are other tips that can help provide a great lesson on history to children? Now that a great starting point to teach history has become apparent, several tips can enable parents to teach history to children.

Finding a home school curriculum:

There is no problem with using a curriculum devised for homeschooling, as a well-structured structure curriculum can make the job of teaching history easier. There are many well-defined home school curriculums available for parents to employ, and it is simply the case of choosing the one that works for a parent. Although not all curriculums are created alike, parents will have to choose a curriculum best suited to their needs.

Modifying the curriculum:

Even choosing a curriculum that seems to work for parents, some fine-tuning still needs to be carried out. Parents may have to simplify the curriculum to make it more easily digestible for their children. Also, it is a great idea to modify the lessons according to one's history. For parents and children who are Native American, it is a great idea to infuse the curriculum with relevant lessons.

Add a bit of flair with stories:

Adding stories to the history lesson can make it more palatable for children, as children love stories. Stories allow children to absorb more of the lesson with ease, as their young minds are inclined to be easily influenced by them. Telling children stories that are historically relevant as part of a history lesson raises the chance of children retaining the historical details.

Add films to the history lesson:

Many historical films are great for watching with children. They show a visual description of the historical events and are easier to follow than words. A child may be able to retain more information by watching a historical movie. The only caveat at this point is for the parent to be careful of is that the history told by films takes some artistic liberty with the facts. This instance could also turn into a great learning moment, where parents can explain the differences between the factual history and the fictional parts of the film.

Conclusion:

Teaching children history can have a lasting positive impact on children's growth. By sharing these learning moments with their children, parents can create lasting bonds.