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Does Saxon food matter?

171 replies

learnandsay · 31/12/2012 10:21

When I can I take my daughter to historical re-enactments. We haven't been to many yet and those that we have been to she hasn't liked much, except parts of Norwich castle.) The Viking one that we went to recently had open fires and the smoke got in her eyes. Then men with chain-mail and heavy shields fought and she asked if we could go home! But she did seem to absorb lots of details about their clothes, their food, their cooking methods and so on. So, even though she claimed not to have liked it I think that trip was worth it. Thinking about King Alfred makes me think of Saxon food. But in practice it seems so similar to Viking food that it doesn't seem worth making a special effort to visit such a re-enactment. Would this be fair? My daughter is very young. I think perhaps we'll visit Winchester when she's older. But for now we'll read about Sutton Hoo, (maybe visit) but beyond that will leave the Saxons alone.

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Mrsrudolphduvall · 31/12/2012 10:22

She doesn't seem to enjoy them very much.

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learnandsay · 31/12/2012 10:31

I know that they do re-enactments at Sutton Hoo too. But most of the time it's simply a museum. She likes museums. But you do get so much from a re-enactment that you don't get from a museum. I'm just thinking that for a small child who has seen so much of the basic details, course woven shawls, leather moccasins, heavy wooden shields, open fires, raw meat hanging by the fire ready to cook, etc. She has seen so many of the domestic details that she'd be likely to come across in a Saxon re-enactment would she benefit even if she liked them a lot? I think Sutton Hoo is different in that it shows a lot of artifacts from a supposed Saxon king and they are fantastic to look at. But at a re-enactment we are looking at an imagining of real daily ancient folk and their lives. And I'm thinking that she has seen so many of those details, does she need any more. (I guess not.) I'm not sure at what stage a pupil would need more detail.

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Mrsrudolphduvall · 31/12/2012 10:34

How old is she?

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cheddarcheeselover · 31/12/2012 10:36

I think you'd be better taking her on a trip to the park....

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GlassTrees · 31/12/2012 10:38

How about a soft play centre and a happy meal?

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LIZS · 31/12/2012 10:41

How old is she ? I don't think all kids ever appreciate such things nor do they need to more than passingly as part of NC. tbh I'd say leave the "events" for now - they sound a reflection of your enthusiasm rather than hers -and go for short trips to Museum of London , British Museum, castles, abbeys, Roman remains, Jorvik, Hampton Court et al . Perhaps join English Heritage so that when you are in other areas of the country you can drop in . dd loved the romance of Queen Victoria so we visited Osborne House and Buckingham Palace but even then you would find new things o see each time you go.

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Rooobs · 31/12/2012 10:42

How very specific Confused

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learnandsay · 31/12/2012 10:42

Even if she was seven, eight or nine I'd find it difficult to see why she would need any day to day, domestic, details about the differences between Saxons and Vikings. (I'm not sure that those details are useful at any age, unless you're a professor of the dark ages or an anthropologist.) She's four and a half.

In contrast, we went to a Roman exhibition at our local museum last year and that was very interesting. The children spoke a bit of Latin, sat next to each other on a communal Roman loo and pretended to wipe their bottoms with a sponge on a stick, (all very Horrible Histories.) They all loved it. We went in a group.

I don't think it's so much the age which is the concern. To my way of thinking it's the activity itself.

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TheNebulousBoojum · 31/12/2012 10:42

I have two children, one obsessed with history and one allergic to it. I'm a history bod.
How old is she and what are you hoping to achieve by taking her?

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Bazinga12 · 31/12/2012 10:43

I'd definitely take her. Lack of experience re the differences between Saxon and Viking food has held me back in life in many ways.

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ChiefOwl · 31/12/2012 10:44

Quite a confusing thread op, is there a reason why you are so ken your dd learns these things at 4.5?

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Rooobs · 31/12/2012 10:44

SHE'S FOUR?!

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TheNebulousBoojum · 31/12/2012 10:45

FOUR AND A HALF?
Are you the full shilling?
Small experiences that are fun is the way to go, variety and not endurance. Why are you focusing on the Saxon and Viking period? One of my passions, but you are doing overkill in a big way.
Is this a reverse AIBU?

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Mrsrudolphduvall · 31/12/2012 10:45

Grin bazinga

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TheNebulousBoojum · 31/12/2012 10:46

Yes, I know it's in primary, but is your partner a history nut?

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TheSecondComing · 31/12/2012 10:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheNebulousBoojum · 31/12/2012 10:49

OI! I'm a teacher and I think the OP is irrational. Grin

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learnandsay · 31/12/2012 10:49

No, I'm the history nut. Well, perhaps we both are. But I'm keener on the actual doing. The other half has a degree specialism in Mary Queen of Scots. I don't think we'll be investigating that for at least a couple of years.

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TheSecondComing · 31/12/2012 10:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FryOneFatManic · 31/12/2012 10:54

The sound you just heard was my jaw hitting the floor.

My kids have always enjoyed coming with DP and I to visit English Heritage and National Trust properties and events. But we never went into this kind of detail at the age of FOUR.

Have they suffered because we didn't? Certainly not. At that age it is more important to get a well-rounded introduction to education. The kind of minute detail you are discussing is, IMO, more appropriate to a kid studying for GCSEs.

But the key comment you've made is that she hasn't liked the reenactments much, yet you seem to be ignoring that.

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Rooobs · 31/12/2012 10:54

Don't forget to cover the history of songs about poo and wee (our specialism, so maybe I'm biased).

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TheNebulousBoojum · 31/12/2012 10:54

Are you trying to put her off for life?
Tell her stories about some of the events and people, let her cook at home, dress up and do some infant art and craft, let her choose which period she's interested in. It's a sod of a time of year to take her to things, bleak endurance and cold.
Where in the country are you?

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CanIHaveAPetGiraffePlease · 31/12/2012 10:55

Poor child. I can just about understand your obsession with teaching her to read but why on earth this???!!

Do you ever just play with her? Go to the park? Play with dolls? Make play dough? Go to toddler groups? This talk of her as a 'pupil' does reflect how you come across. Do you see her as your project to educate? What about as your daughter ? To play with and have fun with and enjoy being a child with?

Do you have any difficulties yourself? This is quite an odd approach. Have you been to children's centres or similar. There might be parenting courses or support workers who can help you with the 'just playing ' element of parenting. . .

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Bazinga12 · 31/12/2012 10:56

On a scale of one to Boris Johnson, how mad do you consider yourself to be OP?

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Mrsrudolphduvall · 31/12/2012 10:56

I thought it was a wind up but op is established poster.

It could be the strangest post of the day.

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