“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it,” said the Spanish philosopher Jorge Santayana, and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill advised any young man seeking to improve himself to study history.
Perhaps the events we are going through at the present time and the rapid frequency of events and the change in the shape of the world from what we knew in the past is the most prominent evidence of that.
Whoever wants to understand our reality today and the wars that begin in one day and one night, should read history. Why, for example, did Russia launch its war on Ukraine? What is the secret of her interest in the Crimea? This can be understood by reading the long history of the fighting over the Crimea because of its main port on the Black Sea. Discussing the impact of this war on the global economy and even their personal expenses would be the appropriate response to school students who are convinced that the study of history is useless.
Why do some people love it and others hate it?
History is one of those topics that can be dry and boring, or that can come alive and inspire your kids. To teach history to your children in a way that makes them love it, keep in mind that it takes more effort than just getting them to read a textbook.
Why do some people like to study history while others hate it? Is it just a difference of opinion? Or does it have something to do with the way history is often taught?
If you talk to students who learn history by reading a textbook, listening to lectures, taking notes, and memorizing dates for a test, you will probably find that a large percentage of them do not enjoy studying history, whereas if you talk to students who learn history through immersion in stories, they By thinking critically about why things happened the way they did, and by actually experiencing history, you will probably find that a large percentage of them enjoy studying history.
According to History net, history is one of those magical topics that mothers can help make their kids love, by doing a few simple things:
date night
One of the ways to get your son interested in history is to set aside a night each week in which you tell him about the past in an attractive way that he loves, especially if your son is young. You can tell him the stories of kings and queens in previous eras, their sacrifices and their victories. If your son is a teenager, you might attract his attention by making this “date night” a test or a challenge; People of all ages love competitive challenges, for example, you could ask your son about your first head of state or about a battle leader “so-and-so”.
You can award prizes or praise the winner; Children should experience a sense of pride when they show their knowledge to others. Parents need to inculcate curiosity and a love of learning to be a lifelong value and habit.
Historical conversation
This depends on the age of the child; If you have a 12- or 13-year-old, you have to get used to talking about world news and events. You and your child at this age can watch the news together on one or two days a week, and you can try to simplify some of the events that may be complex; And then weave history through the events you witness.
Homeschool offers 7 ways to teach your children how to enjoy studying history:
Starting with the historical stage that your child loves
There is a great variety in the study of history, you should start with your son from the subject he loves, as he may be interested in studying the history of ancient empires, or the formation of states, and he may prefer the stories of important historical figures, and even the history of the formation of the earth itself, your son may prefer to start from the world war The first and the second and linking them to what is currently happening on the ground. Find out what your son prefers and start with it.
reading novels
Reading historical novels is a great way for children to experience history for themselves; Good historical accounts will not only deal with what happened but how people felt about what was happening. These books often narrate their victories and struggles, they help our children feel as if they have gone through this time period.
Read real books
In addition to fiction books, reading non-fiction books is a great way to make sure your kid learns the facts of what really happened.
Watching historical and documentaries
Most boys have at least some visual learning style. Allowing your kid to watch movies related to the historical stage he is learning about is an excellent way to enjoy learning about history.
Practical training and activities
Hands-on history activities are so much fun, immerse your child in the time period they are currently in, by designing or dressing up for the period, listening to music, and trying period food. All this will allow him to experience what a person from that period of time has already gone through.
Field trips and historical places
Encourage your child to take part in school trips to historical places. You can also take your son to historical places in your country and observe how people live in these areas today, compared to previous historical periods.
Visit villages where battles with colonial powers took place in the past, visit castles and fortresses, famous battle sites and wars, etc.
Find a creative way for him to record what he has learned
Have your son create some kind of project that will help him remember what he learned; If he loves to write, have him keep a notebook or write a historical novel. And if he loves photography, have him make a scrapbook or picture book.
If he is interested in making films, have him make a film or a documentary. If he’s interested in computers or technology, ask him to create a web page or record a podcast.