Too much too young?

[medoitmama]

Dd1 came home from school recently singing "London's Burning" which she had heard from an older child at school. I realised that the child would have been learning the song as part of a topic on Fire of London. I explained this to my dd (4yo) and she was facinated. Asked lots of questions and told her little sister all about it who has just turned 2 and had no idea what she was on about!

She obviously has a keen, natural interest in history, (from her father I assume!) always asking about kings and queens from yesteryear and telling me enthusiastically about Queen Jessabelle from an assembly!

Was thinking of getting her an age appropiate book about the Fire of London but then wondered if this might mean she ends up being bored when they cover it in class in a few years time.

So, head start or just jumping the gun?

I could always get her interested in another historical event which hopefully she won't be covering in school instead? Also, any recomendations for basic history books to suit 4/5 year olds. Can look at websites but I do like books.

If she's interested, go for it! If they're doing the fire of London, they'll be doing the Plague as well.

Try the library, or look at The Book People as they often have heavily discounted sets of reference books suitable for younger children.

Don't think of it in terms of either a 'head start' or 'jumping the gun'. She's interested, so it's great to get involved / get a book / find out more. See where her imagination and interest takes you! Why don't you go to the library with her and see what you can find? You might come back with a book about the Fire of London, or you might find you come back with a book about Ancient Rome!

Year 2 was Great Fire year at school for my two. Either your DD will have forgotten all about it by then, or she'll remember it with pleasure and go into it in greater detail.

I took DD1 to London for a Great Fire day out, which involved not only climbing the monument, but the dome of St. Paul's too. You might want to get into training.

i think its brilliant shes so interested in this subject no its great to encourage and she will love the fact if and when they cover it she already has knowledge of it , how about museums? half term coming up she would probably love that too.

My son did the fire of London and the Plague in his first term of Reception. I was a bit as they were so young but they all absolutely loved it and DS was completely fired up by it (pun intended!). Sorry, I can't recommend a book as I looked for one that was age appropriate but couldn't find one, but we did look at the Museum of London's website on the Great Fire. At school they did lots of artwork connected with the Great Fire, building Tudor houses, painting pictures of fire, and lots of talk about the nature of fire and light. They also had an actor who played Samuel Pepys coming in and telling them all about his experiences of the Fire.

Both my DDs' clearest memory of the period (in spite of the Big Day Out) was of Pepys burying his cheese in the garden.

Could have saved myself a fortune and re-enacted that bit at home.

No, it won't ruin her enjoyment of the Fire of London forever. There are historians who spend their whole lives researching the same event: there are always more things you can learn. It is unlikely that the teacher and you would be telling exactly the same story, in the same words, with the same activities.

Besides, children that age love repetition: have you never noticed how many times they can listen to the same fairy tale? She will probably enjoy the school topic all the more because it will remind her of the fun times you and her had together. If she remembers at all, that is. And if she does remember, she will enjoy having something extra to contribute to the lesson.

I was also a little shocked when my yr1 son came home talking about the fire. He's fine though, no worries or nightmares. They played this game at school. Take a look at the website

It looks pretty informative and fun. Created by the Museum of London, London Fire Brigade Museum and a few others.

This is FABULOUS BOOK which has pages on Fire of London and Plague too

link here

DD received it when she was turning 4 and still loves it now

Following post above re: 'see inside' book, Usborne also do a great 'beginners' series, which would be perfect for a 4 year old. Also features the fire and plague, but not too much to take in:

www.amazon.co.uk/London-Beginners-Catriona-Clarke/dp/0746088493/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297258783&sr=8-1

Hopeless at links so may have to copy and past into your browser?

WW

I think it'll only enhance her enthusiasm.
I've taken DD to the natural history museum, ponds planetariums etc without them having done dinosaurs, pondlife or outer space yet.

Thanks so much to all for your input. Pterosaur, yes my dd was also thrilled with Samual Peyps having burried his cheese, (having initially guessed he may have burried his goldfish or his computer - leading to discussion about when electricity was invented!)

Christiane thanks for the book recommendation. We have another in the range(Look Inside my Body) and love it but did not know of the London book. Wibbleweed, think your recommendation may be perfect for when she is more able to read herself, so may get a copy and save it for next Xmas.

Pterosaur might have to copy your day out as my dad lives in London so can take a trip there whenever.

So I'll definately read up on topics she's interested in whether or not she will be covering them in school. I'm definately convinced that that's the way forward, and might learn a thing or 2 myself!

Bramshott, yes, think we do need a trip to the big library in town and see what she's drawn to! A job for the weekend I think!

I picked this up secondhand:
www.amazon.co.uk/Britannia-Great-Stories-British-History/dp/1858818761

And dd (5) loves it. Funnily enough the Fire of London is one of her favourites. I think there are a lot of cheap copies about.