When I can I take my daughter to historical re-enactments. We haven't been to many yet and those that we have been to she hasn't liked much, except parts of Norwich castle.) The Viking one that we went to recently had open fires and the smoke got in her eyes. Then men with chain-mail and heavy shields fought and she asked if we could go home! But she did seem to absorb lots of details about their clothes, their food, their cooking methods and so on. So, even though she claimed not to have liked it I think that trip was worth it. Thinking about King Alfred makes me think of Saxon food. But in practice it seems so similar to Viking food that it doesn't seem worth making a special effort to visit such a re-enactment. Would this be fair? My daughter is very young. I think perhaps we'll visit Winchester when she's older. But for now we'll read about Sutton Hoo, (maybe visit) but beyond that will leave the Saxons alone.
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I'm not sure that anybody actually needs to know anything about history, do they? I mean couldn't we junk it entirely?
Oh no. Some historical knowledge - at higher levels - is important in thinking about the development of the human race, how things worked out in the past, how the past informs the present - current conflicts have their root in history. You can't reallly access a lot of literature without a context of historical knowledge - and great literature is one of the best ways to understand human nature.
There are all sorts of things we don't need to know, per se - but we'd be bored and boring people if we didn't know anything but essentials. For small children, exposure to a wide variety of matters in ways they enjoy is hugely enriching. If your child loves museums - wonderful! But if they prefer stomping around Vinolanda in the rain then that's good too.
Posting because this thread came up as top in active convo's - slightly bizarrely !
Agree it seems rather crazily specific 
But it has inspired me to take my DC's to some re- enactments, castles, and stately homes in the New Year - Then when they're grown up and criticize their up-bringing at least I can say "But I took you to Stately Homes" 
Apologies to any Stately Homes survivors on here - I know it's not a laughing matter really and do empathise. But you have to take your humour where you can find it sometimes ?!
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