Using History Stories to Teach Persistence and Perspective
My favorite subject in school was history, and I never understood why so many people’s eyes glazed over during that class. But that is because I treat history as a treasure trove of stories, not a long, boring list of dates and names. The past has it all: tragedy, comedy, horror, love, heartbreak, fortunes found, and fortunes lost.
Historical accounts can be told as nonfiction stories or be sparks for inspired storytelling. Hollywood and publishing companies use this for their content all the time. Think of how many movies, TV shows, and novels use modern characters traveling back in time to meet with historical figures. We can borrow this trope and spin tales for our children that are both entertaining and educational.
Notable people and events of history can demonstrate the behaviors we do and do not want our children to display in their own lives. They can also provide context to the child(ren) we love about why certain things in the world are the way they are.
Your child will inevitably encounter obstacles and setbacks in life. History is filled with many examples of how individuals and communities have experienced and overcome challenges. Whether the adverse circumstances were caused by natural disasters like volcanoes or earthquakes, or human monsters like Hitler or Stalin, humans tend to persevere and carve out vibrant lives even in difficult situations.
Telling the stories of history’s heroes and villains and societies’ triumphs and failures is another way to give our children tools to overcome their difficulties. What G.K. Chesterton once wrote about fairytales can also apply to history’s stories. To paraphrase Chesterton; children do not need to be told that obstacles exist. They already know that. Historical stories are needed to show children how obstacles can be overcome, demonstrating perseverance even when the odds are tough.
And it isn’t just perseverance that we can teach with past events. Every character attribute we want to encourage or discourage can come to life using examples of historical figures. Abraham Lincoln is associated with honesty, Clara Barton with compassion, Nelson Mandela with selflessness, Rosa Parks with courage, Mari Curie with scientific curiosity, Leonardo da Vinci with innovation, and Walt Disney with creativity. Likewise, William Vanderbilt is an example of greed, Ghengis Khan of brutality, Alexander the Great of arrogance, and Benedict Arnold of betrayal.
This nonfiction story type can expose the child(ren) we love to a broader range of perspectives, helping to deepen their empathy toward others. Just as telling them stories about the family and communities they are a part of opens their minds and hearts to those around them, relating past events connects them with humanity at large. The more we tell history stories to our children, the more they see how vastly different, yet interconnected, cultures are across the world and throughout time.
Lastly, history stories can also give context to the things and customs that children have in their daily lives. If you have a curious child(ren) who wants to know where things come from, history has you covered. They can learn how we went from hand-written letters to telegraphs to telephones to the smart devices they ask to play games on today. It can help them understand why systems, processes, and freedoms exist. For example, women (in the US) can have careers and vote thanks to the suffrage movement.
Maybe by teaching the child(ren) we love about the great people and events of history, we can help them to figure out how they will leave their future mark on the world.
