WW2 in Y3 - how much is covered?

[alittlebitbored]

Sensitive flower dd is starting this topic in History. Just wondered how much depth they go into at this age?

DD is in year 3 and has outgrown the reading schemes so teacher sent her home with The Anne Frank Story (a kids' biography, not her diaries). I was very sceptical, and indeed DD got two pages in and insisted on taking it back to school. I backed her up, because I think that 7 years old is just too young.

Mind you they did the slave trade in Reception - I wasn't mad keen on that either, but it's kind of unavoidable when you're talking about Caribbean family history.

But Dilys, that is such a brilliant example of children self-regulating things. Children can self-regulate their food, their sleep, and their learning. My children have shown me repeatedly when they have got to the end of their ability to digest any more information. I have learnt to tell them no more than the answer to the question they've asked. They'll ask loads of questions and then very, very suddenly change the subject. Your DD did the same thing - had a go and then said 'I can't cope with this yet' and gave it back!

When I was training I remember my history tutor showing us a beautiful picture book - the subject - The gas chambers
It was intended for use with quite young children and many of us thought at the time it was inappropriate but over the years I've revised my opinion and think resources need to be matched to individual children and groups maturity/understanding.

Well, we all shield our children from some things, don't we. I assume that many of us with young children would rather that they didn't learn the graphic details of mass genocide, torture, mutilation rape and sadistic sexual assault just yet.

I don't understand the argument that "it's insulting to those who have no choice to shield our children from crap things. ". I've told my 5 year old dd that some children her age are living in poverty, don't have enough to eat or a proper place to live etc, but I don't have any desire to tell her that some children her age have been blown to bits by landmines or that some children her age are raped by their parents. We all draw the line somewhere.

I tend to agree MWTW - that's why I just made a sceptical face (because I was pretty sure it was a bad fit for DD) and let her get on with it rather than taking it away myself.

I don't think I'd recommend Pink Rabbit for yr 3, especially a bit of a sensitive child (sorry if I've read that wrong). There is some imagery in it that may be a bit worrying for a young child if they're likely to take it to heart. It's a terrific book though and very very good for a slightly older child. Same with Goodnight Mr Tom although, with a bit of help that may be slightly better. A couple of issues to do with the boy and his baby sister (who died) being locked in a cupboard by his mother and Will's friend being killed in an air raid but outside of that it's a very good accessible book. The film with John Thaw is good as well.

melpomeme - I'm not suggesting that parents force their chidlren to be aware of things, just that they answer children's questions honestly and trust them to regulate the information they take in. If she said to you 'what's a landmine, Mummy?' what would you say? Would you lie and shield her, or be honest with her? So long as you only tell her the information required to answer her question, and go no further, she has the chance to choose whether she's ready to ask more, or whether that's enough for her to deal with now.

My yr3 DS has just finished their WW2 topic and he has loved it. We took him to the IWM and to the Cabinet War Rooms (recommend this highly) and I was staggered at how much he knew: annexation of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hitler, Jews, Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima, GIs, DDay, as well as the evacuation. And he was under no illusions as to how horrible it was. Their teacher started them off and answered all questions honestly and completely, apparently, and she has said how surprised she was by the kids' interest and ability to cope with hearing about some of the brutal stuff. And my DS is pretty sensitive himself, doesnt like scary stories, but is totally ok with scary real life facts.

They study WW2 at yr 2 at my DS's school. They all loved it I don't think they heard much of the horrors though. Grandparents went in who had been evacuated, military relatives took in kit, had a VE day party, went to the IWM etc.. the teacher had a siren sound and they all had to go under the tables when she set if off.

I took DS to the Britain at War Experience at London Bridge which was pretty crap but he loved it!