Learn about history with kids: fun ways to spark curiosity at home and beyond

History can sometimes feel overwhelming  for young learners. But with the right prompts, pictures and playful activities, children can time-travel from the kitchen table, meeting Vikings, Romans and brave knights, peeking inside castles, and even exploring their own family stories. Check out our guide to exploring the past with children, filled with brilliant books that turn big ideas into irresistible discoveries.

Start with what children know: their own story

Children love talking about themselves and the people they love, so begin close to home. Write Your Own Family History is a gentle, guided way for older primary children to ask their grandparents questions about their lives, jot down memories, and map a simple family tree. It turns history into something personal and meaningful, encouraging writing, drawing and thoughtful conversations. Keep sessions short, choose one prompt at a time, and let children lead. Photos, recipes and favourite sayings all count as historical sources! For younger ones, help them spot dates on birthday cards or note the year they started Reception; you’re sneakily introducing chronology without any pressure.

Build a time-travel habit with vivid “day in the life” adventures

Long time periods become bite-size when children can picture a single day. The immersive 24 Hours with the Vikings drops readers into longhouses, boats and bustling markets; 24 Hours in the Stone Age brings mammoth-hunters and tool-makers to life; and 24 Hours in a Castle shadows cooks, guards and lords through a full day behind the battlements. Read a chapter aloud at breakfast and ask, “What job would you pick today?”Simple prompts like this can naturally build vocabulary and empathy. For hands-on learners, act out a guard’s shift or design a castle menu on scrap paper.

Make questions your superpower

First Encyclopedia of History is perfect for curious children aged 5-7 who pepper you with questions. Short text blocks, lively pictures and clear timelines give quick answers you can dip into, making it ideal for bedtime chats or car-ride curiosities. As children get bolder, Lots of Things to Know About Knights and Castles turns facts into fascinating “did you know?” moments. It’s great for building confidence in reluctant readers who love to surprise you with new knowledge.

Lift the lid (literally) on the past

Flaps make learning feel like play. Look Inside the Stone Age and Look Inside the Romans invite small hands to peek under doors and inside carts to see how people lived, worked and travelled. It’s perfect for Reception and KS1 children who learn best through doing. Pair a few flaps with quick activities: shape Stone Age “handprints” with paint, or sort “Roman market” items from the kitchen cupboard. For a bigger project day, See Inside the History of London layers buildings, bridges and people over time, making it ideal before a trip or virtual tour.

Knights, castles and courageous stories

If your child’s eyes light up at armour and sieges, you need to try these books! How to be a Knight is a playful how-to that explains training, gear and knightly codes through friendly, step-by-step pages, making it great for role-play or costume-making weekends. Who were the Romans anyway? answers big questions with friendly wit, while Lots of Things to Know About Knights and Castles rewards browsers who love bite-size facts. Prefer something calmer? Knights and Castles Magic Painting Book offers mindful, screen-free art that still keeps the historical theme front and centre. It’s perfect for quiet time after a museum visit.

Craft, construct, and create to remember more

Budding engineers will love Build Your Own Gladiators, a model-making adventure that turns reading into building and play-acting. Combine it with a mini “arena” made from a shoebox and some soft-toy spectators. For younger children, switch between a flap book and a quick craft (a cardboard shield, a “Roman road” with blocks) so energy and attention stay balanced.

Tie it all together with timelines and trips

Try ending each week by adding a card to your family timeline: “Vikings: longships and trading,” “Stone Age: flint tools,” “Romans: roads and baths,” “Castles: defence and feasts.” Children love seeing learning stack up. If you can visit a local museum or historic site, bring See Inside the History of London, a brilliant book for spotting landmarks.

Ready to explore more?

Discover the full range of history books for every age and stage here!