While learning about history and law might not seem like the most exciting thing to your kids, knowing about these subjects can make a world of difference for them in their lives. Because as adults, we know that if we don’t learn from history, we’re bound to repeat it.
With the wisdom that we and our ancestors have gained from moments in history that went well and moments in history that went awry, we can use these lessons to teach our children how to create a better world for themselves and future generations.
To help you learn how to do this, here are three tips for teaching kids about history and law.
Explain Legal Jargon
In the lives of adults, there’s all kinds of legal jargon that we’ve learned over the years and likely use with our kids. However, they may not know what these words mean. So when we notice that we’re using words relating to the legal system, it can be helpful to make sure that we’re taking the time to explain these concepts and definitions to our kids.
There will come times in the lives of your kids where they have to deal with legal issues, be it for themselves or relating to others. And the more understanding they have about basic legal terms and how the law can work for or against them, they can better prepare for and protect themselves from sticky situations.
For young children, you can use kids shows that portray some kind of trial to help give them some foundational knowledge about the legal system. And for older kids, you can build on this knowledge with more true-to-life shows.
Start With Your Family History
When it comes to learning about history, many kids can feel like it has no relevance for them. So to help give immediate relevance, you may want to start with your own family history.
Think about where your family is from and what kinds of experiences people in your family had to go through. As your kids learn about these people and these events, they can better situate themselves in the fabric of society and understand how past events really impacted people. You can go back as far as you want into your family history or even just learn about older relatives that your kids may still know or remember.
Focus On Understanding Rather Than Memorization
In public schools, a lot of history education can seem to be focused around memorizing names and dates. And while this information can be helpful in some instances, when you’re teaching your kids about history, it can be beneficial to focus more on understanding concepts and themes as opposed to just regurgitating information. This will help to facilitate true learning about history and how certain events throughout history lead to other major events and the development of the world we live in now.
If you want your kids to have a firm understanding of history and law as they venture out into the world, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you in accomplishing this goal.
