The Weekend Post: Immersing Your Teen in History - Why You Should Visit Auschwitz

 

While Auschwitz may not be suitable for younger children, teenagers are able to visit this notorious and poignant place, especially if they behave and act in a mature manner. You might want to consider why Auschwitz could be an interesting venture for them. This could help with their development and understanding of the world, as well as their schooling and education. It could be a good idea to ask your teen if they want to visit as, while the camp may not be used, it can still be rather daunting and bring a lot of emotions to the surface.

Use a tour guide

It is possible to visit Auschwitz on your own. This means that you could traverse the area unaccompanied, and find your own way there and back from wherever you are staying. However, this might mean that you miss out on some key information. Instead, you might want to consider an Auschwitz tour from Krakow which may not only include a coach, or other transport but also allow you to follow a tour guide. A number of the tours each day may be given in English, meaning you can listen and understand without the need for a translator.

Help with schoolwork

Many children and teenagers learn about World War II as part of their history curriculum. In some schools, the time period of 1939 to 1945 may be featured within GCSE material, or even at A level standard. Your teen may, therefore, gain a better understanding of the subject by visiting one of the most notorious locations themselves. Although their teacher may have a lot of information, it can sometimes be a good idea to take the learning outside the classroom. Not only could this allow them to gain access to information that might not be featured in the curriculum, but it could also help them to better understand some of the aspects they have already learned.

Be grateful for what they have

While your teen may be rather well behaved and respectful, there may be times they feel like their life, or your rules, simply isn’t fair. Visiting Auschwitz can be interesting in the sense that it could show them what an unfair life really looks like. While some young people were put to hard, manual labour with little respite and even less food, others were murdered in the gas chambers and separated from their loved ones. Notoriously, 15-year-old Anne Frank and her family were taken to Auschwitz after they were discovered. Anne and her sister were moved a mere month later and died in a separate camp. While her mother died in Auschwitz, her father was the only survivor of the family. Looking at it this way, your teen may quickly understand that they have a lot to be grateful for in comparison to how this teenager’s life ended.

A visit to Auschwitz can be an educational and humbling experience. You may want to discuss what you saw, learned, and even how you felt, with your teen after your visit.