Train up a child…

Knowing About the Past Can Help Children with the Future

It is unfortunate that many children are growing up with little or no knowledge of the past. If children are knowledgeable about the past, they are more apt to appreciate what they now enjoy. In addition, parents and grandparents can be drawn closer to children as the children learn to better understand those older folks. Learning about the resourcefulness and sacrifices of the past motivates children to become more resourceful and less demanding of conveniences. The Thanksgiving season provides a good opportunity to delve into the past as we teach children about the pilgrims, the first Thanksgiving, and the early lifestyles of parents and grandparents.

Grandparents can play an important role in assisting parents tell stories from their childhood. Unfortunately, many older people seem to feel that their job is done and do not make the effort to help bring up children. Grandparents need to tell children of their happy times as well as the sad times they have experienced.

Many older grandparents lived during the Great Depression. Personally, I remember seeing a soup truck come to our little town, Verona, MO, and people line up behind it for a bowl of soup. I remember the rationing stamps we had for sugar, gas, and other things. Many children find it hard to believe that we could not have bubble gum because all the rubber was needed for tires for war equipment. Children bought saving stamps to help fund WWII. The blackout nights when everyone had to turn off their lights at a certain time for fear that enemy planes could see them and drop bombs were scary times that should be related to children.

Children find it amazing that older folks did not have computers, cell phones, and many other things they take for granted. They need to know how older folks survived without running water, electricity, and indoor plumbing. It was in my dad’s lifetime that automobiles were invented. To imagine living without these conveniences is an exercise in creative thinking.

One very important subject to cover is the role of our military in securing our freedom. We are fortunate to live in an area where much attention is paid to our men and women who have fought for us. The Veteran’s Museum is an excellent place to take children.

Great books are available in local libraries to read to children about Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, many schools are not including much about how this country got started. Teachers are so pressed to cover certain things that they often do not have the time to adequately cover this topic.

Making sure that children are taken to places to learn about the past and telling stories from the past go a long way in developing understanding and right attitudes in children. The attitude of gratitude and resourcefulness become bricks in the foundation that children need to face the future.