SOTW3 for 5yo

[Pencil Pusher]

Ds7 started SOTW1 last yr, & dd (3 at the time) insisted on tagging along. She answers the review questions & colors the maps. Sometimes she even insists that she wants to do her own summary. She tells people at the grocery store about battles, kings, & whatever. So my plan has been to just keep letting her tag along. She likes to be read to, lol.

Last week we read about Joan of Arc. She's my kid who likes adventure, suspense, scary stories, whatever. Ds is *much* more reserved, even expressing GREAT distress over reading Charlotte's Web (which mil let them see the movie of last yr w/out consent :glare:). Anyway, when we read about Joan of Arc, dd4 was pretty upset. If I'd anticipated it (like I did w the Black Death), I might have been able to prepare her. I way didn't, though.

My concern is that we're getting further & further into history, into the dark corners of recent times when terrible things have happened that are more relevant, & therefore more horrific. I'm wondering if I should...do hist while she naps, maybe. I hate to leave her out, she's so good at it, & she usually enjoys it, & there's so little they can do together...but...the Middle Ages are one thing. How bad will next yr be? And of course I dread SOTW4 for 1st g in another year.

What do you all think?

[Sue G in PA]

b/c of the reasons you stated. So much more gruesome detail. Perhaps you can pre-read the selections and monitor which would be appropriate? At this age, history is really just an "extra". They won't retain every little detail and so you are really just interested in exposure to create "pegs" on which to hang details during the next "cycle" when they are older. If your 4yo doesn't hear every lesson in SOTW, she won't be hindered. :) Perhaps you could switch programs for now and revisit SOTW when they are older and more able to handle the more mature themes in history? Sorry I can't be of more help!

[beansprouts]

I intend to fold in 4yo ds this year as we begin again with the ancients (as his interest allows). I posted a similar question a month or so ago, and SWB responded that she was working on a younger sibling pack for SOTW4.

[Ali in OR]

I have the same age spread and I'm not too worried about SOTW 3 next year. But then we haven't had any difficulties arise yet. Also we use Biblioplan, so a lot of our content is from books other than SOTW 3--still using a lot of picture books here. Can you anticipate what will be big issues in this time period? French Revolution? Anything else? I think I would plan to go ahead and use it and try to read ahead so you can be prepared for the hot spots.