Everyone has a special place in history. Each person becomes part of history from the moment they are born. When a child asks his parents where he came from, this presents an ideal opportunity to create an interest in history. It is not difficult to stimulate a child’s active involvement in history that surrounds them every day.
Every child becomes a part of history at birth, a character in the middle of a fantastically big story. Family documents and treasures, birth certificates, graduation diplomas, awards, commendations, cherished letters and cards, keepsakes, mementos, immunization records, early samples of your child’s writing and art are all historical sources that weave a story for your child.
Many people’s birthdays coincide with significant or major events that happen nationally or internationally. At the start of each year the newspapers feature articles on the first new year babies. Perhaps a family member shares a birth date with a famous person or was born on the same day that Hillary and Tensing reached the summit of Mt Everest.
During the first year in Kindergarten children share stories about themselves, their family and their neighborhood. Each child’s special days are recognized. Teachers encourage family members to visit the classroom and share family history. When students go on a vacation, visit relatives, celebrate a special day they typically share their experiences with their classmates.
Throughout their school years children read and are read stories about how people live and lived in different parts of the world. The study of the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth helps children understand how the world in which they live has changed over time. Children are always fascinated by the small sailing ships that early explorers used to chart coastlines.
A country’s history is taught incrementally and students soon learn of the significance of national holidays. They begin to understand that things that are familiar to them may not be present in other children’s lives. Their friends’ may have come from a different country or state. Schools are not the same the world over, houses, climate, vegetation, food, clothing, travel, medical care all differ. Natural events such as earthquakes and tsunamis may occur frequently.
Gradually the students build their personal knowledge about where they are placed in history. They begin to realize that many battles and wars have been fought throughout history. Parents and immediate family members may have served their country during times of conflict and are willing to share historical details of that time.
As parents we can prepare our children to achieve the lifelong task of finding their place in history. We can help them to be knowledgeable about historical events that shaped the world into which they were born. National and international events will become history, and have an immediate and ongoing impact on their lives.
National and international events inevitably become tomorrow’s history. Children can learn how these events shape their lives. They will realize as they grow older how these events also shape their thinking and their ways of solving significant problems. Remember – an informed citizenry makes a strong country.