NANA SAYS TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT OUR HISTORY

Remembrance Day week is a good time to teach children and teenagers about Canadian history. Wearing a poppy and explaining why is a good starting point. Many schools invite veterans to come and give a talk. My Dad used to go to schools in his area in West Kelowna to talk about his experiences. He said he cushioned his discussions so not to talk about the horrors but the reason and outcome. How he fought for his country. To remember and honour the Vets. There is a fine line of how much to share. Parents use your discretion. Our history is more than war. With 150th anniversary of Confederation, there is lots to discuss. With the 100th anniversary in 2017 of women getting the vote in Canada, even more to share. Visiting local museums and art galleries has so much to offer. Locally we have the Black Creek Pioneer Village with the buildings and artifacts. Wonderful opportunity for children. There are many books available too. No need to buy, can get them from local libraries. Why history? Connects to the past in the present. For my family talking about our ancestors who came to Canada in the early 1800s connects to immigrant experiences today. Also the foundation of humanitarian endeavors started over 200 years ago. Children can love the facts of how we came to be as a country. My grandchildren get history from their Nana- maybe a little too much!