Now, more than ever, while the coronavirus continues to dominate our lives, we need to keep history alive and maintain its relevance while places of interest we would normally visit remain closed. This means finding other ways to spark interest among children.
The great thing about history is its egalitarian nature. Whether we like it or not, we are all experiencing a historical event, with Covid-19 being documented as the key event of our time. On that basis, our history should be valued and explored to provide us with context, meaning and much-needed diversion.
With more parents directing their children’s learning from home, they have been in a wonderful position to promote the subject that’s usually overshadowed by maths and English. This doesn’t mean additional study - history is fun and can be enjoyed as a hobby.
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As a child, I read the Horrible Histories series, book after book, irrespective of what I was studying at school. It provided a gateway to other realms and opened up new ways of thinking. With so much information around on “the deadly virus” - or whatever other scary descriptions of Covid-19 are in circulation - delving into books about historical events will provide children with a welcome escape.
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While this is an undeniably scary time, we can offer some solace by drawing on past experiences that show how civilisation has overcome similar threats. We can discuss events like the Spanish Flu and the smallpox outbreak (where age-appropriate) to offer perspective and, importantly, to instil hope that we, too, will overcome this.
Involving grandparents and older relatives in regaling their stories is another great way to make history more relatable, as well as helping to forge strong bonds through the generations and ensure that family stories will be retold.
A beacon of hope during Covid-19, Captain Tom Moore won the hearts of the nation. His profile has led people of all ages to read up on the Second World War - many for the first time - bringing about a new-found respect for those who lived and fought through the war and, like him, went on to perform new feats later in life.
We are surrounded by history wherever we go. When out on family walks you can fire up a child’s imagination by pointing out local historical sites using these as a focal point. In Stirling, local people can still walk up the Abbey Craig and right up to the National Wallace Monument, embracing exercise, nature and history in doing so. During a walk around urbanised environments like Glasgow, similarly, you’ll find many clues of the city’s rich industrial past to point out.
Equipped with an understanding and appreciation of history, our young people will get a real sense of where they came from. And as they learn from the past, they can look forward to a time when they will be telling younger generations about the time they lived through history - in the time of the coronavirus.
Catherine Morrison is learning and volunteer coordinator with Stirling District Tourism, the charity responsible for operating The National Wallace Monument
