Historic Model Trains
Boys and girls these days are a lot more interested in updating their face book information than in actually sticking their faces into a book. If it doesn’t connect to the power grid and add to the monthly electrical cost, lots of young people are just not that into it. This is after all the cyber age and if a youngster isn’t reading three things at once he feels like he is slacking. Even though they consider the past to be what happened last week, it’s still important to find ways to get them involved with it. It’s not enough to know that there were some guys named Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Benjamin who now have their faces on our bills. If we’re going to remain a successful democracy we really need to pass on some of our beautiful history to them. So how do we get them to open the book on the traditions of this country without feeling like we’re pulling teeth? There are lots of ways, but one particularly good way is through toy trains. Yes. Yeah, historic toy locomotives embody a vibrant history with them but don’t burden us with feeling that we are being educated. Try using toy trains to teach the past this way:
Use trains as a secret vehicle for the past:
Try to make your set-up time and place specific. Imagine a set-up that is set during Reconstruction in the American Southwest. You can feign ignorance and get your young people to “help” you figure out what would make for correct scenic details to your setup. Imagine stringing up a long row of telegraph poles next to your track to show the communications system of the time. Or they might create a vibrant town near the tracks to represent the boom cities that were the winners in the railroad speculation game. Maybe even have a few washed out prospectors still panning for gold in the nearby stream.
Spice up the tired old school project by swapping in a toy locomotive setup instead:
Diorama and similar craft projects are fine but if you’ve already gotten your kid into model locomotives why not take advantage of his or her hobby to really impress at his next school presentation. A static diorama really can’t compete with the dynamic movement of a historic toy train layout. Just imagine, for example, adding a toy locomotive display to your youngster’s essay on Jesse James. As your period specific locomotive rounds the curve there are Jesse and his whole gang just waiting to pounce and continue his wrong headed crusade. It’s your youngster though, who will be robbing that A right out of his teacher’s grade book!
Visit Historic train Locales:
If you’re anywhere in the American West you are never far from historical locomotive sites and museums where model locomotives are often featured. This can be a lot of fun and be very educational as well. Some rolling exhibits may come around as well. Just keep your ears pricked and you are sure to come across one sooner or later.
All of these things are sure to place your child on track to greater cultural literacy. Even if you just do toy training without even considering the educational possibilities you will inevitably kindle a greater sense of historical knowledge simply by handling these little mechanical doorways to the past.
Here is more information on Model Steam Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
