Appropriate History Documentaries for a 6 Year Old?

No documentary rec here, sorry, but has she read the Magic Tree House books yet? She'd love them if not -- there's one on the Titanic and one on ancient Egypt, among many, many other topics, and they're perfect for her age. Pop pop might really like reading them with her.

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ETA: I don't know where you are in PA, but I've taken my son to Valley Forge and the the Washington Crossing State Park -- both great destinations for history-buff kids.

I watch a lot of programs on History and History 2. The programs are well done and are sanitized for anything gory or too graphic.

I believe we should know as much truth as we can about historical events. In my opinion it won't hurt her to watch these programs. You can't protect them forever.

How about the Dear America and Royal Diaries series? They are books but there were videos created from some of them as well. There is the Liberty's Kids show, American Girl books and movies, and another book series too, the name escapes M.. How about letting her watch 1776? Try looking online for historical movies for kids and you can check them on common sense media or your favorite movie checking site. It could be a great study for her as there are things from the beginning of the universe on up.

Go to your local library, (Children section) and ask them about it. They will know how they can help you. Library offers so many resources for any age.
I am a fan of Barnes &Noble, I find there different things for my kids to learn and enjoy.

Both of my boys, J. turned 6 yesterday and will be 8 next month, are VERY into history. My daughter likes it too, but not as much as my boys.

We let them watch most of it. They see the scary stuff, but it's part of history. We go on tours of battle fields and listen to the stories. We went to Antietam Battle Field two summers ago and saw mock set-ups of surgeries. That freaked my son out, he was 6 then, but at the same time he loves it.

I guess if you J. explain it to her and make sure she understands it, I'd let her watch.

We are pretty liberal with what our kids watch and listen to though, they know what they can and cannot repeat.

My daughter had been Titanic 24/7 for two years. I think a lot of kids love that sad story.

We've watched a lot of documentaries and "how is that made?" kind of clips on You Tube. If DD has a question, we go find out.

Myself, I remember the Big Foot, Yeti, Loch Ness Monster phase, with the Hindenberg thrown in. And Charles Lindbergh. And Harry Houdini. And mummies.

Basically, as long as there is an adult watching with her who can explain things when necessary, most documentaries are fine. J. refrain from the ones that push speculative junk like the haunted house series and the like. Most kids will believe what they hear--I guess they haven't developed argumentative reasoning yet, so with the Yeti and the like, I would use it as an opportunity to teach critical thinking skills. Little sponges, those minds. May as well fill them up with interesting true history.

It's fantastic that she finds these things interesting. Please encourage it with age-appropriate history books and historical fiction! There are tons of books -- please see your library's children's librarian. The librarian would love to have someone ask about historical fiction! There are great series of fictionalized "diaries" of historical wome like Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, and many other queens and rulers; there are series of books about girls and boys in Colonial times; do seek out more books!

Your daughter sounds very intelligent. Many kids J. don't have the ability to think about and get interested in things outside their own little worlds, which is fine,, but when a kid actually enjoys and understands the idea of history, that indicates she's darned smart.

Of course you're right to be concerned about content at her age. I've had the same issue with my daughter and history or science documentaries (she's 12 now but I still am a bit careful). Even the great "The Civil War" documentary by Ken Burns shows period photos of dead soldiers, and it's not always something you want a kid to see, though the rest may be fine. I know you can't control what's on granddad's TV, but at home, you can preview things if possible; or only let her watch documentaries on DVD that you've rented and previewed first. Yeah, it takes time to preview things but with a smart kid it IS worthwhile; you don't have to sit down and see every second but you can play the DVD while you're doing housework etc. I do this for other TV shows my child wants to watch that can contain some violence (she loves a British Robin Hood series but on rare occasions the violence is too much so I put on episodes while I'm doing dishes, to check them).

At granddad's, I'd encourage him strongly to read to and with her instead of watching TV! Send him a bunch of history kids' books and historical fiction to keep J. at his house -- special granddad books. Tell him she loves history and you want to encourage reading and she would LOVE to do this with him.

Of course he'll still want to watch TV, so I would talk to him (without her around) about your concern that she not see whatever worries you -- dead bodies, references to sex, whatever concerns you most. If you are worried J. about her knowing that things like the Titanic sinking, or 9/11, or wars happen -- she maybe can handle that better than you realize. Yes, kids do know about the "sad but true parts" as you put it; sad but true is part of life. Kids are pretty good at comprehending that Bad Things Happen on a large scale; what you want to avoid is specific images that you feel will disturb her at this age. But don't shy away from the subjects entirely. It sounds like grandpa means well but doesn't necessarily discriminate about topics for documentaries; I'd sit down with him (or have your husband do it if it's his dad) and with the TV guide and pick out specific shows rather than letting the TV J. be on when your child is there.

One last note -- sometimes "history" documentaries, especially on cable TV and not PBS, actually turn out to be about things like "the history of serial killers" or "the history of the sexual revolution" and so on. Fine, but not for a young kid, so you and grandpa do need to be aware of those kinds of shows.

Encourage it! History is a lost art that few people enjoy. There's a history channel for kids and you can always hit up Netflix but most history shows are not as bad so long as you are not watching the Military Channel or History of World War. They tend to show more graphic pictures if that's what you are worried about. Mummies and really old history is generally safe since there was no film of wars, J. pictures by artist.

Well, this goes waaay back in history but my son loves watching shows about how the earth was made. What about dinosaurs? But I am not sure I would work too hard to restrict these shows, maybe hold off on the holocaust and other such atrocities, but a presidential assassination -- I would be fine with that. As you said, she doesn't seem to be negatively affected by them, no nightmares and such. And think about what she focused on after watching JFK - the "magic bullet" not his head being blown off. She seems like a bright, eager young girl, let her indulge that desire and explore those curiosities, especially with pop pop. I would have a serious conversation with pop pop about shows that are truly off limits, like the holocaust. And be sure he is open to answering any questions she has about the topic as they are watching the show, and that if he sees any signs that she is uncomfortable/scared/anxious during a show that he must immediately turn it off. Best of luck to you and your daughter.