What can I do to encourage my child's interest in history?


There are a number of ways to encourage your child’s interest in history. Make history relatable by sharing your own family history with your child. Share fun memories of the people and places in your childhood, and encourage your child to talk about favorite memories as well. Read about people and events that have made a difference in the world, and let your child know that these people were not unlike your child. Try picking a moment in history, and take your child to library to find books and other materials that are age-appropriate. Another fun idea is to go to a history museum so your child can see how things used to be and learn how things have changed over time. 

Jennie Ito, Ph.D.

Child Development Expert

Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.