Some kids discover their passions at a young age. This includes history lovers. As a parent, you should strive to encourage your child’s interests and curiosity. Here are four fun activities budding young history buffs can participate in.
Collecting Coins
Coin collecting has long been a popular hobby among adults and children alike. However, it can also teach a lot about history. The ability for coins to teach history is multifaceted. You can use the minted dates to put an era into perspective, as well as tell the stories of the American historical figures featured on our coins. The stories of certain rare coins, such as those that can be obtained through a coin shop like Rocky Mountain Coin, can be fascinating as well. Foreign coins can teach your child about the important historical figures other countries chose to put on their money.
Participating in Fossil Digs
Kids have been in love with dinosaurs for generations. Fortunately, there are plenty of places where families can go to dig for fossils. Kids will learn about the natural history of our world while participating in a fun hands-on activity. It will fuel their love for the prehistoric world and let them feel like real paleontologists. Most of these dig sites are on public land. You should always follow the rules of the dig site and only take fossils you are permitted to.
Reading Books
There are plenty of history books on the market aimed at children. For example, there are books about art history and famous painters, the Revolutionary War, world history and more. Reading these to your child will let you spend quality time together and teach them about these topics in fun ways. Reading to your child has also been linked to a number of positive outcomes. These include a stronger vocabulary, greater empathy and better analytical thinking, among others.
Becoming a Junior Ranger
The nation’s national parks have a lot of history behind them. Some are more known for their gorgeous scenery, such as Yellowstone. Others, however, such as Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and Gettysburg National Military Park, tell an important story from our nation’s history. The Junior Ranger Program is run by the National Park Service and available in nearly every national park. Kids complete activities and learn about the park to receive a patch and certificate for their efforts.
Learning new things about history with your child can be fascinating. You will likely have a lot of fun and learn plenty of new things as well. Help your child learn about the past so he or she can have a better future.