Auschwitz

Mr_Wang

Suitable for a ten year old?

The website recommends (though doe not restrict) children under 14. I am simply looking for genuine advice from those that have visited.

Can the adults that still believe in Santa Claus and protecting our children from the realities of life for their whole life, please refrain from hijacking this thread.

Thanks.

Little_Vics

I've been as part of my MA course - it was a very moving experience. Am happy to pm about this if you are worried that the thread will be hijacked.

However, my initial thoughts are that is it very important that future generations learn about genocide and the holocaust (not just during WW2 - there are some horrible things happening in some African nations even today), and if you feel that you are educated enough to answer the questions your child will have, then go. Don't pass up the opportunity.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC is excellent and has some great resources online. A visit to the Imperial War Museum in London might also help.

PM me if you like

xLV

Mr_Wang

Little_Vics wrote: »

I've been as part of my MA course - it was a very moving experience. Am happy to pm about this if you are worried that the thread will be hijacked.

However, my initial thoughts are that is it very important that future generations learn about genocide and the holocaust (not just during WW2 - there are some horrible things happening in some African nations even today), and if you feel that you are educated enough to answer the questions your child will have, then go. Don't pass up the opportunity.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC is excellent and has some great resources online. A visit to the Imperial War Museum in London might also help.

PM me if you like

xLV

Thanks for that.

His school topic is WW2 and each time he gets the topic homework we do a documentary. For example when he did the Romans we flew to Rome, Egyptians - Egypt.
It is not logistically possible to do a documentary on WW2 with a ten year old and so an important part of the war and indeed the history is the Holocaust. Having just come back from Israel too I felt it might be the perfect thing for him to learn.

Though he is mature and has seen and experienced things that most children haven't (we are quite well travelled) there are some things I would still rather keep from him. For instance we went to the war museum in Saigon and there are some graphic pictures including two deformed babies that have been preserved in a large glass case. That had an effect on him (though he was 7 at the time)

Im sure you get the idea.

donnap83

Don't let other people dictate to you. If you feel that your 10 year old will benefit and truely understand what happened there, then take him(her?) Only you really know. I agree with what the last poster said, that future generations should learn about the holocaust and genocide.

Take care x

make_me_wise

I would say it very much depends on the individual child. OP you know him best and how he might react to learning about this part of history in a very graphic way. I would suggest borrowing a book from the library or buying a book on the subject. Even looking up information online and seeing how the child reacts first. There is an extremely good dvd which tells the story of Anne Frank before she went into hiding, during their time in the Annexe and then what it was like for her in the camps. By doing this in advance you wont arrive at the camp and be left with a child that cant handle the reality of this part of history.

I think when a child is ready to learn about these awful events it is invaluable for them to see history first hand. I have been to Auschwitz and also to Belsen. It is an incredibly moving experience. At both camps they go to great length to show the facts in as detailed a way as possible.

I had been advised by people who had visited both camps before me to expect certain things. I didn't believe them till I visited myself and without being pre-warned it may have unnerved me. Please feel free to PM me.

Little_Vics

The US Holocaust Museum has 'privacy screens' at the average height of a 10 year old, so they can't see some of the more graphic content. It's well worth going to.

I must say that I found elements of Auschwitz disturbing, but I would certainly recommend a visit.

Have you thought about watching Schindler's list with him?

He's very lucky that you are investing so much into his education! Just a thought - if you want to do something about WW2 that isn't so graphic, then how about a visit to Normandy and Arromanches to see the D D landing sites?

spadoosh

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Thanks for that.

His school topic is WW2 and each time he gets the topic homework we do a documentary. For example when he did the Romans we flew to Rome, Egyptians - Egypt.

Wow! Lets hope he doesnt do astronomy any time soon.

Mr_Wang

Little_Vics wrote: »

The US Holocaust Museum has 'privacy screens' at the average height of a 10 year old, so they can't see some of the more graphic content. It's well worth going to.

I must say that I found elements of Auschwitz disturbing, but I would certainly recommend a visit.

Have you thought about watching Schindler's list with him?

He's very lucky that you are investing so much into his education! Just a thought - if you want to do something about WW2 that isn't so graphic, then how about a visit to Normandy and Arromanches to see the D D landing sites?

Thanks for the excellent advice, we have watched Schindlers list and he cried. Therefore he understood.

I didn't consider the Landings (thank you) but I looked at heading to Stalingrad. The problem is I wanted something specific and complete if you get my meaning.
Again thanks, your advice and that of others has been inspiring

Little_Vics

There's also Anne Frank's house in Holland to consider, and some of the war sites in Belgium. I completely understand about wanting to experience a 'first hand' site though.

I'd be interested in what others have to say.

make_me_wise

I agree that Anne Franks' house in Amsterdam is well worth a visit. Very informative and so much effort made to educate people. I was shocked and saddened though by some of the comments left by people in the visitors book there, stating that it 'was all made up', 'a lie', 'never happened' etc. If only these peoples' parents had your foresight OP and had shown them what really went on, there might be a little less ignorance in the world now.

donnap83

spadoosh wrote: »

Wow! Lets hope he doesnt do astronomy any time soon.

Anyone got a brouchure for Virgin Galactic?! :rotfl::rotfl: