How can parents instill a love of history?

Perhaps the most important thing you can do as a homeschooling parent is to adjust your point of view. If you were taught in a traditional school environment, you probably think of U.S. history as a series of important events and the people behind them. That can be interesting, but it is not personally relevant unless your ancestors were among the participants.

In reality, U.S. history is very personal. If you were born in America, it is your cultural heritage - it is what molded your family traditions, your lifestyle, your attitudes. If you are a naturalized citizen or an immigrant, our nation’s history is now part of you as well. What happens in the future is the result of all that has come before. To not know U.S. history is to not understand what it means to be “an American.”

We produced America’s Living History-The Early Years specifically to help our readers discover the fascinating, personal side of America’s past. Our hope is that you will visit the many historic landmarks, historical parks and living history museums, where you can see first-hand a remarkable heritage.

If your life is too busy for history travel, the book has 500 color photographs to help spark your child’s imagination. Try relating your own family photos to various periods in history. What was happening in America when those photos were taken? What happened before that time, which might have influenced the life your ancestors led?

What do others say?

Here's a sampling of what reviewers have said about America's Living History-The Early Years that is relevant to homeschool families:

“This is a very pretty book and one that home schoolers would find absolutely a treasure. My parents took us on endless daytrips on weekends and these are some of my fondest memories of childhood. If you have kids and an automobile, I’d put this book on the ‘must-have’ list because you can build some excellent memories and give your kids a fine sense of where we came from as a nation. Big thumbs-up and I eagerly await more in this series.” Joanna Daneman, reviewer, Amazon.com

“The photographs in this work are rather stunning, not only in their clarity, but composition as well. They truly give you a feel for the place...With each location we are provided with a mini-history lesson, and given a surprisingly accurate and in depth overview of the site, considering the space allowed. The text of the book is simple, easy to understand and, most importantly, informative and accurate! ...I love the way these two have inserted little nuggets of information (found in shaded boxes) throughout the text of the book. These little bits of information are a history lesson in themselves.” D. Blankenship, reviewer, Amazon.com

“Our schools certainly do not do a good job in teaching history to the rising generation. We all have our own explanations as to why they do such a pitiful job, but that is a different discussion. What you can do with this is have them [your kids] ‘explore’ a site and give a report to the family during a family meeting (always great to have as regularly as possible). After a few of these are done and you can tell which sites they are most interested in, wouldn’t it be great to ...visit some of those sites of special interest to them? What a great way to build family memories and educate your kids without making them feel like they are being ‘educated.’" Craig Matteson, reviewer, Amazon.com

“Regardless of your need, this beautiful, full-color book is wonderful as a resource, a coffee-table book, or even just to read - I started it and could not put it down. Whatever your need or goal, if you appreciate the history of the United States and you are seeking an opportunity to immerse yourself further in that history, you need this book.” Lonnie E. Holder, reviewer, Amazon.com

“I have actually been to a many of the places mentioned and I enjoyed the refresher course. It’s a book that you can pick up and turn to a random page and learn something interesting about American History. The book contains maps, directions, and other information useful for planning a day trip or family vacation to get in touch with American history.” Joel, a reader, BarnesAndNoble.com

“I cannot do justice to this book...it’s boundless illustrations...and the concise, well-written descriptions for each of the suggested destinations. The Sheumakers are intelligent people writing for the benefit of other intelligent people.” Jerry Saperstein, reviewer, Amazon.com

Trouble with history? For some kids, trying to learn history is like trying to swallow a giant pill - it won't go down unless you break it into little pieces. Parents and teachers can't force it upon them.

There is a possible solution: history-oriented travel. We know from first-hand experience that historical settings and specialty museums make real for children what can only be imagined through history books, Internet lessons and filmed documentaries. The benefits can be startling. Consider this comparison: 1) Sit active children in front of a TV documentary about the first English people in America, and see how easily they are distracted. 2) Now go to Virginia, turn those same children loose to explore the re-created 1607 Jamestown Settlement, and watch them become both excited and involved.

Through history travel, your kids will do more than see important places. They will also witness through interpretive programs how American ancestors lived, worked and enjoyed life without any of our modern “necessities.” Chances are, you'll bring home a whole lot more than souvenirs.

Using historical places to teach history. The past takes on a whole new meaning when explored through history travel. You can wander into Indian villages, working farms and plantations, populated Colonial American settlements, sailing ships and canal boats, fully outfitted military forts and fur trading posts, and commercial villages peopled by old-time artisans. And that's just the beginning! You can also visit iron furnaces, a gunpowder manufacturer, a textile mill, the first American gold mine, taverns, pharmacies, historic government buildings and the homes of our early Presidents. Often these heritage parks and living history museums are peopled by costumed interpreters and re-enactors who provide valuable insight. We feature 300 premier destinations in our book, America's Living History-The Early Years. Scattered throughout the U.S., they are a great way to excite the curious minds of both children and adults.

When you can't travel, the book can serve as a teaching tool. With its historical perspectives, 92 sidebar features and 500 destination photographs, it enables you and your children to page through history, learning much along the way. Think of this as a “virtual trip” that you can begin and end and then begin again whenever time allows. The book is designed to be read here-and-there or cover-to-cover, providing an easy-to-digest overview of an extraordinary history that is “alive and well” today.

Learn about...

• Exceptional Native American historical sites, including a monumental earthwork that has a footprint larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

• European colonization as seen from three different perspectives - the Spanish, French and English.

• Centuries-old religious settlements that provide insight into early communal lifestyles and the devotion to God.

• Military sites that recall the excitement and dangers of the French & Indian War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812.

• An array of other historical places that recall the formation of our independent nation and the emergence of the Industrial Revolution.

• And finally, the Lewis & Clark Expedition and fur trading, which opened up the West to settlement.

Other resources. For a variety of teaching ideas and in-depth historical information, we suggest looking at the National Register of Historic Places website on teaching with historical places. The lesson plans are thorough and use properties listed in the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places to enliven history, social studies, geography, civics, and other subjects. See .

History is not something to memorize and regurgitate. When children don't like history, it's often because the inter-relationships and meanings have been blurred or left out entirely. Parents and teachers try hard to instill as many facts as possible. But children can become easily bored, as you well know. What's more, underlying social issues can cloud their understanding.

Consider the following example:

• There was a time when many kids learned that American Indians were vicious savages, setting fire to settler's homes, scalping the men and kidnapping the women. Now they learn that early colonists were the savages, stealing from Indians and purposely trading disease-infected blankets to kill off whole tribes. Sadly, both viewpoints have many elements of truth. However, they are extremely narrow. More importantly, either one could make a child angry at history.

• A balanced perspective is important, and history travel can provide that. Your children will discover first-hand how America's Native Peoples had developed an immense variety of cultures and levels of sophistication - some good and some not-so-good. Before the first Europeans arrived, most Indians were nearly disease-free, tended to function as extended families and were generally content to share nature's bounty. At the same time, your children will learn, people across the Atlantic were living in a world wracked by deadly plagues, major wars, poverty and religious conflict. When the Europeans decided to sail across the Atlantic, they were seeking a “New World” and a better life for themselves. American Indians and Europeans had very little in common.

• Explore the social implications. What happens when two such different peoples come into contact? What causes relationships to deteriorate and ultimately fail? Who prevails and why? What parallels can you find in today's world?

You have a perfect opportunity with history travel to teach important life lessons and share a perspective that has many applications in today's complex world.