History is a very important topic that teaches us all about our countries, cities and people. It lets us understand why our world has become what it is today. Especially for kids and young people it is even more important to understand what mistakes our ancestors have committed or what they made possible for us. That’s why children should know about the past – as early as possible!
But where can our kids learn about history? Well, there are many ways to make history interesting for children. Have a look at our suggestions…
1. History Museums
One of the most obvious ways to give our kids an understanding of history is to visit historical museums with them. There are several kinds of museums all over the world that present the development of history in a child-friendly and appealing way. Have a look at our list of interesting kinds of history museums:
- Museums of Natural History
- Museums of Archaeology
- Museums of National History
- Museums of Regional History
- Museums of Anthropology
- Museums of Cultural History
- Museums of Art History
and many more…
2. Illustrated History Books
Reading books is a great way for kids to learn about history. Good history books for kids are attractively designed and explain certain historical facts and courses in a way that is easy to understand for children. There are non-fiction books as well as books conveying historical facts in the form of fictional stories:
- 100 Events That Made History (Clare Hibbert)
- Maze Hop: Time Travel (Anna Brett)
- A Short History Of The World (Ruth Brocklehurst)
- Magic Tree House series (Mary Pope Osborne)
- If You Lived…series (Ann McGovern)
and many more…
3. Knowledge Magazines
In addition to books, knowledge magazines are another alternative for kids to learn about history in a playful way. Besides informative illustrated texts, knowledge magazines for kids offer different kinds of riddles, exercises and games. By and large, children can deal with those magazines themselves. They can draw, paint, fill in things and read. In addition, their creativity and reading comprehension are trained here.
A selection of recommendable knowledge magazines for kids:
- Brainspace
- National Geographic Kids
- First News
- Aquila
- How It Works
4. Historical Sightseeing
Kids can experience history up close by visiting certain cities There are a lot of relics from earlier times that want to be explored. So what about a walk through the Old Towns or a visit of some historical ruins and monuments? Surely your kids will enjoy this kind of historical education and also the adults will learn from it. Have a look at our list of examples of historically important countries, cities and places:
- Rome, Pompeii (Italy)
- Athens, Peloponnese, Crete (Greece)
- Roman Baths, Stonehenge (Great Britain)
- Holocaust Memorial, Berlin Wall Memorial (Germany)
- Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)
- Temples and pyramids of Maya (Mexico)
- Diverse Buddhist and Hindu temple complex (Southeast Asia)
- Alcatraz, 9/11 Memorial, Pearl Harbor (USA)
and many more…
5. Online History Lessons
A very easy way to teach kids about history is to show them certain websites and learning videos. On the Internet there are numerous possibilities for kids to learn about history in an interactive and playful way. You will find worksheets to print, quizzes, riddles and coloring pages. Clearly summarized informative articles will teach your kids important historical knowledge in a child-friendly way.
Some recommendable kid-friendly websites about history:
In addition to that, diverse videos on YouTube explain historical events and facts attractively and exciting for kids. With colorful animations and good explainations they attract the attention of children in a flash.
YouTube channels that teach history for kids:
Have fun discovering all about history with your kids!