Getting Kids "into" History

  

If there was a phrase I hated growing up, it was the one you see above. As will no doubt surprise you, I was fascinated by history at a very early age, delving into biographies and happy to traipse about old battlefields and museums. I, or more commonly, my parents, would often get the question: "how do I get my kid "into" History?"

The answer, of course, is that is a silly question, and as long as you approach History as something that has to be sugar-coated, kids are going to be as suspicious of your motives as my dog is when I give him a pill coated in peanut butter. The trick is to stop thinking of it as a trick. Quit viewing history as an obligation, like eating your vegetables or going to the dentist, and instead have fun with it. Admittedly, it's quite possible to suck the life out of history, and I suffered under quite a few teachers that bludgeoned me with facts and dates, but this is fun stuff. and you should enjoy it.

And there's no better place to do so than the National Museum of American History. While the physical improvements in the recent restoration are nice, I think the new attitude among the staff and the revamped programming is what is really making the Museum come to life. Always a beacon to us history dorks, the Museum is starting to draw kids in, and with good reason.

So let's all stop "dragging" our kids there and look at some great ways to have fun:

1. Take advantage of the programming: This is really where the Museum has set itself apart. All of the Smithsonians offer docent led tours, kid-friendly events, and so on, but I venture to say that none of them are as accessible, nor as aggressive in engaging you, as the revamped American History's lineup. I'd certainly recommend checking the events calendar ahead of time to see if anything looks interesting when you come, but I usually just walk up to the information desk when I get there and ask what's going on today. I have yet to find something my kids aren't interested, usually starting within an hour or so.
2. Participate in "Historic Theater" events: Hand in hand with my first point, I'd try to see every "historic theater" event they put on. These are events that occur on a daily, if not hourly basis, that involve a costume historical interpreter sharing their experience with an impromptu audience. It combines the best elements of street performers with the historic collections they perform in front of. I think my daughter has assisted in helping Mary Pickersgill to "make" the Star-Spangled Banner so many times she'll get a bonus if she lays out one more star. But even weightier subjects have engaged her--even the reenactment of students training for nonviolent civil rights sit ins at the lunch counter in Greensboro.
3. Use the hands on facilities: On the ground floor (down one level from the Mall entrance) are two hands-on places where kids can play with stuff. The Spark Lab is adjacent to the well laid out Science in American Life exhibit, and allows kids to explore the creative process implicit in all scientific pursuits. Or they can just play, as if there's a difference. It's killed many a rainy afternoon for us. Spark Lab also has an excellent under five section. Across the way is the Invention at Play exhibit, which ties in the process of invention with quite a few hands on activities. And throughout the museum, docents will be pushing Interactive Carts, which let you explore a specific subject with them. Don't hang back, these are a lot more fun than staring at exhibits.
4. Pick one exhibit and explore the crap out of it: Whatever you do, don't try to think you're going to see the whole Museum. Not that it can't be done, it's that it shouldn't be done. You'll tire yourself out and not get much out of it. I re-learned this one day when my daughter asked me why we always saw "boy" exhibits. Not thinking that the dinosaurs at Natural History or the planes at Air and Space were exclusively masculine, I hadn't been ready for this, but I humored her and we spent an afternoon exploring the First Ladies' Dresses. We had a great time, and I was once again surprised at how much really digging into a dull subject (for me, at least) can end up being fascinating. Sacrifice breadth for depth. It pays a higher return.

All in all, the American History museum is creeping up the list of my favorite kid's museums in DC. Frankly, Air and Space better get in the game if they want to stay competitive.

Comments

[Elizabeth F]

American History has become the awesome musuem on the Mall for kids--it is not congested labrynth, and is easy to use and easy to enjoy at the kid level. But enough of that. But what's your favorite Frist Lady dress?