Latest / 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids. / Fun Ways to Get Kids Excited about U.S. History

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Fun Ways to Get Kids Excited about U.S. History · 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids.

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to another episode of the Five Minute Parenting Podcast.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Karen Ferguson, wife, mom, grandmom, and children's book author with a background in K-8 education and a passion for equipping parents to raise confident and God-confident kids.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: In this podcast, we'll cover parenting practices from both a practical view and a biblical view.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Our goal is to help you raise kids with a positive, godly self-image so they can become all they were created to be.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: I know you're busy, so we'll keep it short.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Let's take just five minutes and dive in.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: Was history your least favorite subject in school?
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: Is it your child's least favorite?
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: If so, you're not alone.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: History has been considered one of those boring subjects by many kids.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: It can be a challenge to ignite an interest, particularly with young children, because depending on how it's presented, the subject can feel dry and unrelatable.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Take the American Revolution, for instance.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: The people, events, and dates are complex, and kids may have little motivation to learn about something that happened more than 200 years ago.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: Why does it matter, they may ask?
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: It has nothing to do with my life today, right?
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Actually, it has everything to do with our lives today.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Without proper understanding of the motives behind the revolution, the courageous sacrifice of many, and the importance of the U.S.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Constitution, kids can grow up to become citizens indifferent to the blessings we share, and the opportunities, rights, and freedoms we have that can only thrive in a free nation.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: This puts our liberty, justice, and democracy at risk.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: Only when we understand the true value of something will we honor it and consider it worth fighting for.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Well, the good news is history does not have to be boring.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: I have some simple ideas and resources to help make learning U.S.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: history interesting and even fun.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: First, if you need to brush up on American history yourself, you'll find a wealth of knowledge right at your fingertips through Hillsdale College, and it's free.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: Hillsdale College provides curriculum and training for K-12 instruction, and it's known for teaching excellence.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: You'll find all you need to know about U.S.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: history from the colonies to the Civil War in their American History and Civics Lessons course, which I've included in the show notes.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: Second, be sure to use multimedia resources to engage your kids in history.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: One that I highly recommend is the Adventures in Odyssey award-winning drama audio series.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: It's perfect for ages eight to ten, but there is no doubt your whole family will love it.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: This series was a hit in our home when our girls were young, and my daughter now shares it with her children.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: I've included a link in the show notes to one that I think you'll like called For God and Country.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: Also, choose your books and curriculum carefully.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: Find creative, colorful, and engaging books that will draw kids into the content.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: I've heard great things about the Tuttle Twins books as well as Generations Homeschool Curriculum.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: And how about educational board games?
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: Not every child enjoys learning from books, so be sure to incorporate learning games into your curriculum as much as possible, and you'll make learning history fun.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: Check out the game American Trivia Family Edition on Amazon.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: And let's teach history from a biblical worldview.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: In my opinion, that's the best way to teach it.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: And I've included a link in the show notes to one from Generations Homeschool resources called America and God's Providence.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: Whether you're homeschooling your children and are looking for new ideas and curriculum, or just want to help your children learn more about our nation's history, it's important to make the learning as interactive as possible.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: No long textbooks, boring lectures, and rote memorization.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: That's how I grew up with history.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: Kids want to relate to what they're learning.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: So I've included several links to some great ideas to help make learning American history interactive and fun.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's it for today.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you find this episode helpful.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: Be sure to check out the show notes for links to all the resources discussed today.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: And if you have any ideas for making learning American history more fun for kids, please reach out to me on my website at KarenFerg.com.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: I'd love to hear from you.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, have a blessed week.