The credit for this little activity idea goes completely to my six year old son, who declared this morning, while standing on my bed, that he was the Statue of Liberty. He went to our dress up bin, got out the crown and "torch," and wrapped the blanket around himself. Never one to miss an opportunity, I asked him the basic "Who, What, Where" questions about the statue, taught him what he didn't know, and then he 'performed' this video. (You may have to turn up your volume to hear it.)
Young children love playing dress-up, so what not try to direct their dress-up play session in a way that can help teach them some aspect of their family history. Seven out of eight of my immigrant great-grandparents came through the port of New York between 1890 and 1920, so the Statue of Liberty is a huge part of my (and his) family's history.
Whether your family's ancestors were farmers, soldiers, doctors, teachers, factory workers or anything else in between, try using role-playing and dressing up as a way to spark their interests in their ancestors. Your 'costumes' do not have to be anything complicated or extravagant. Bed sheets, belts, ties, aprons, ribbons, as well as old sport coats, buttons, hats, and boots can go a long way into creating dresses, military uniforms, and trade uniforms of the past. Use the Internet to look up what an ancestor in a particular time, place, and profession may have worn, and use your imaginations!
©2014, copyright Emily Kowalski Schroeder.
Young children love playing dress-up, so what not try to direct their dress-up play session in a way that can help teach them some aspect of their family history. Seven out of eight of my immigrant great-grandparents came through the port of New York between 1890 and 1920, so the Statue of Liberty is a huge part of my (and his) family's history.
Whether your family's ancestors were farmers, soldiers, doctors, teachers, factory workers or anything else in between, try using role-playing and dressing up as a way to spark their interests in their ancestors. Your 'costumes' do not have to be anything complicated or extravagant. Bed sheets, belts, ties, aprons, ribbons, as well as old sport coats, buttons, hats, and boots can go a long way into creating dresses, military uniforms, and trade uniforms of the past. Use the Internet to look up what an ancestor in a particular time, place, and profession may have worn, and use your imaginations!
©2014, copyright Emily Kowalski Schroeder.
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