How I introduced a love of history to my boys.

History is comprised of stories and I really enjoy stories.

I did not always enjoy history though.

I thought it was boring and filled with dates that I could not possibly remember.

What changed?

I was introduced to historical fiction.

How I introduced a love of history to my boys.

Early American history through, Gilbert Morris’s “The House of Winslow”.

Medicine in the 1800’s with, “Cheney Duvall.”

How I introduced a love of history to my boys.After marrying my husband I was introduced to Louis Lamour.

I can’t wait until my boys are old enough to start reading his books.

My interest in history came after I started reading books like these.

Suddenly I wanted to know if what I was reading was true.

I researched events and started really wanting to know what happened.

History textbooks left me frustrated and annoyed.

So when my boys were still toddlers I started out on my mission to instil a love of history in them.

I searched and searched for interesting picture books that just told a story.

I wanted it to introduce some history but mostly I wanted them to just enjoy it.

I started them on “The Great Big Wagon that rang: How the Liberty Bell was saved” by Joseph Slate.

It was a great book and told a really interesting story.

My boys are now 6&7 and have no clue history can be boring.

Because history if full of amazing stories and kids love stories!

So here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Start with a subject you are interested in.

I started with the Revolutionary War and Civil War because they interest me the most.

Are you a Jane Austen fan?

Find a story on that era in British History and start there.

If you are excited about it they will be too.

I have talked to so many people that like history because they had one teacher that loved it!

Revelutionwarbooks

2. Start with fiction.

Don’t start reading boring facts, read an amazing story of heroes and survival!

There are so many amazing people that did incredible things throughout history!

Even if it is not a real person they will still get the idea about what was happening back then.

sleeping inside

“The Sleeping Bear Press” tells great stories and their Alphabet State books are a great way to learn about the states.

thelast insidethelast The “Tales of Young Americans Series” have so many beautiful stories with gorgeous pictures.

starspangledbanner abe revelutionarywarjackThe Magic Tree House” by Mary Pope Osborne

imagineThe AIO Imagination Station books

3. Experience it.

Once you have introduced history through fiction make sure you bring it to life!

Dress up in period clothing(even if it is just a paper hat).

greeksMy boys dressed up as Aristotle

Re-enact an event through legos and toys.

greeksThe Trojan War with Legos.

civilwarbattleCivil War men.

Go to a History event.

shoot swordAt the Honey Springs Battlefield Re-enactment.

-Eat foods that they ate.

My boys and I made Corn Cakes after reading about them in one of the Little House books.pomWe ate a Pomegranate while learning about the Sumerian’s.

History is amazing and interesting!

Make sure you introduce that history to your kids, not the boring facts and dates!

Read here, to see how I tie together the subjects.

Going to miss this ~Birthday’s

facepaintOne day he will have outgrown having his face painted like a tiger.

tigersEven if he does make a really cute one.

zoo wagon otter climb elephantGoing to the zoo with his Mom will not even be a thought.

play swordfights pipesSpending the whole day with her to celebrate will only be a memory.

tigercakeHe will outgrow tiger cakes.

tigerfaceI want to cherish every birthday with my little boys because one day they will be men.

Last days with a 5 year old ~super moves

myboytree smileHe is smiling because he is mimicking me.

I want to thank whoever taught my boys that…

No really, who did?

movesHis new thing is to have me take pictures of his super moves.

legobatmanThis is apparently how lego batman jumps.

At least that is what I am told.

One more day with a 5 year old!

It is so much harder to let my littlest grow up!

Quick tip: After years of taking pictures of my boys jumping off things, I have found setting the focus to Continuous works best.

You can get in really big trouble for missing an amazing jump…