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The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map : Index >>
Stones Forum >> What do children think of megalithic sites?
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What do children think of megalithic sites? |
JimChampion
Joined:
30-12-2004
Messages: 398
from Southampton
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|  Posted 22-02-2005 at 20:31
Do you know of anything particularly insightful/amusing regarding megalithic sites that have come from a child's viewpoint? I don't have children of my own, but do spend all day working with them (as a science teacher). They naturally have quite a shaky grasp of timescales and history, so I wonder what they make of it all.
[In a recent chemistry lesson with 13 year olds we were discussing when the various metals were first used by man. They were less interested in iron, bronze etc. and more interested in what our current age will be known as in the future: a different thread for discussion!?].
[ This message was edited by: JimChampion on 2005-02-22 20:33 ]
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nicoladidsbury
Joined:
17-03-2004
Messages: 108
from A Cumbrian Lass
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|  Posted 23-02-2005 at 19:57
I have a gaggle of children, two boys (stepsons) aged 15 and 8 and a girl, katie who's 11.
The boys hate megalithic sites, and groan if I suggest a visit to a stone circle. I think I put them off when I dragged them across a cold and windy moor to Hag Hill Stone circle. They were not impressed, the walk was too long, and the circle not big enough (in their opinion).
However, Katie loves all things megalithic. She is determined to be a archeologist when she grows up. She is really interested in the history, in the ages of different places, and how they link together.
(I recon we'll be known as the plastic age, with all the landfills full of the stuff )
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enkidu41
Joined:
18-02-2004
Messages: 172
from London
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| Posted 02-03-2005 at 00:46
I took my 7 year-old grandson a couple of years back to see the West Kennet Long Barrow. He seemed quite happy exploring the site both inside and out. But on the way back at the foot of the hill he accosted a middle-aged couple going up to see the barrow and told them not to bother as "there was nothing interesting up there." Ah well.
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Andy B
Joined:
13-02-2001
Messages: 7043
from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 05-03-2005 at 23:29
I'm afraid my kids are totally bored by stones as well, not to mention the fractional lumps and bumps around here that can be hard for a diehard megarak to get excited about. My boy is very keen on Vikings, Knights and Romans though, and has shown great interest in knowing all about the Iron Age warriors that battled the Romans. Oh and Saxons, and King Arthur, and anything resembling the Lord of the Rings films or the mythological side of Star Wars. He doesn't appreciate the difference yet.
He always wants to know which side are the 'goodies' and which are the 'baddies' which I've been trying to teach him to think about more! 
I must recommend a really excellent kids book that we got with some tokens off a cereal packet recently: Castles & Forts
by Simon Adams (Kingfisher)
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/readers_guides/kingfisher/castles.shtml
It covers a lot more than the cliched Castles, from Bronze Age forts (first pictures are of Inishmore Iron Age stone fort in Ireland and a lovely one of a Bronze Age settelement with a wooden palisade - near fell off my chair I did!) Then Maiden Castle and it settles into the regular sort of stuff, but excellent, intelligent, archaeologically aware writing. Web sites that are genuinely interesting like http://www.castles.org and http://www.castlesontheweb.com rather than just English flippin' Heritage and National narking Trust.
It even includes ideas for jobs that might be relevent, including an Archaeologist (of course), a Conservationist, a Historian a Professional Roman (OK I made that one up - it's Tour Guide - Tim!), a Computer Programmer or a Website Designer (yeah - right...) Anyway aside from that last one - I'm very impressed.
My kids are slowly coming round to enjoying walks in the countryside - although I think the snow helped a lot with my girl! I think younger kids just don't like being dragged on walks of any distance, especially uphill, to see anything.
The site they liked best was Five Marys - near the car, had some nice horses, and lovely sunset: http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=7443
Cheers,
Andy
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Caiote
Joined:
08-02-2005
Messages: 1
from West Wales
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|  Posted 13-03-2005 at 20:21
I THINK WE WILL BE KNOWN AS THE "AGE OF STUPIDITY", CHEERS CAIOTE.
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Partlow
Joined:
09-02-2005
Messages: 57
from Alabama, U.S.
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| Posted 16-03-2005 at 17:33
I remember an experience with a 10 yr old boy in my family. I got him to go to a Highland festival in town by telling him there would be great big swords and things that he would otherwise only see in his dramatic cartoons. By doing this, he was opened to a whole new world of experience. He, being the most finiky eater, even tried hagas for goodness sakes. He now looks forward to going again and will even play historic board games with me (the computer is the beginning & end all with him).
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Anonymous
User not Registered |  Posted 18-03-2005 at 12:54
I took my two boys up to LOng Meg and Her Daughters a few weeks ago but at 3 and 4 1/2 they are a little too young to understand and appreciate what they saw. We did have a lovely picnic thoug and we remembered to clear up after ourselves and not spoil the countryside 
I hope that last part sank in even if appreciation of the stones didn't 
Rob
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slumpy
Joined:
18-10-2004
Messages: 27
from Kent
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| Posted 25-03-2005 at 18:55
You'd all love my kids then - "Anyone fancy going to Coldrum this afternoon ?" is usually answered with a "YAAAYYYY!!!"
They both love the place, and always end up with a thread or a ribbon [or even all my daughter's cut-off hair when she had it cropped!] to tie in the trees.
My son is 10, and loves walking across windy moors for no good reason, my daughter would rather see the pictures on the computer though. So I at least have half a bunch to take out on a sunday. They live in the Peak District, and I will be soon - plenty to see and do !!!
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maesi
Joined:
29-11-2003
Messages: 4
from lancashire
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| Posted 25-03-2005 at 20:13
my nine year old grandson was very keen to tell me all about the project he was doing on ancient egypt but when i asked him what stonehenge was he hadn't a clue. why can't youngsters be taught about our heritage (neolithic and bronze age)at lease my grandson had enough curiosity to ask me about stonehenge and i duly tried to enlighten him
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slumpy
Joined:
18-10-2004
Messages: 27
from Kent
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| Posted 03-04-2005 at 19:09
Got dragged [yeah as if!!] to Coldrum and the Countless Stones today.
I pointed out a 'Whitehorse-type' stone from a distance to the kids and it turned out to be...a white horse...
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donstobbart
Joined:
03-06-2005
Messages: 1
from cumbria
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| Posted 06-06-2005 at 17:17
My kids think stones and circles are brilliant. They love wandering to new places, and seeing new things, and always ask questions I just don't know the answer to! They are 3 and 6, and though they can't grasp time, they know the stones etc are "older than nana"!!
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