Use Hamilton to Keep Kids Interested in the Story
Why do your kids need Hamilton in their lives? It is true that the musical – a biopic about founding father Alexander Hamilton – is nearly three hours long and touches on a variety of adult themes: war, government, sex, deception, murder. However, it is also a great entry point into American history.
Hearing George Washington (portrayed by Christopher Jackson) sing, “We’ve outnumbered armaments! Offended! Outnumbered! Planned! »Can help children understand the struggle for the American Revolution. When Hamilton and Lafayette declare, “Immigrants – we do our job!” and high five, you have the opportunity to talk about where the citizens of the United States immigrated from.
Start with the soundtrack
Obviously, you are not going to spend $ 300 on a ticket to Hamilton for your seven-year-old as an acquaintance. However, if your kids love music, this soundtrack has a song for every kid. There is “Helpless”, a sweet R ‘n’B jam that sounds like an Ashanti and Ja-Rule song. “You Will Come Back” could have been a Beatles song. The Schuyler Sisters are begging for a Destiny Child remake. And, of course, the Battle of Yorktown anthem, in which your kids will try to rap as fast as possible. There are many amazing Hamilton live shows on YouTube for your kids to watch.
List places named after the founding fathers
The names on the map came to life for my son when he heard them in the songs of the musical. Weehawken, New Jersey, is among the top three places he wants to visit because this is where Hamilton and his nemesis Aaron Burr fought their fateful duel. It doesn’t matter if you don’t live on the East Coast, though. We live in California and it comes alive when we meet a street, building or city named after one of the Founding Fathers.
Buy Revolutionary War costumes to play Dress Up
My son’s interest in history began in kindergarten, when his school staged a play about 13 colonies. This interest had more to do with wearing a funny white wig and a gun than learning about real events. However, once he started listening to Hamilton, he wanted a Revolutionary War costume so he could pretend to be Hercules Mulligan. He wore it every day when he sang Battle of Yorktown. I once caught him playing George Washington and Hamilton’s One Last Time, using the $ 10 bill and the $ 1 bill as if they were toys.
Read them interesting books about the American Revolution
As your kids get to know the characters in the American Revolution, they’ll want more stories. Some of the best include ” Who Was It ?” a series that tells the stories of a wide variety of historical figures, including the founding fathers. Also check out Nathan Hale’s Dangerous Tales series of graphic novels and personal favorite Founding Mothers: Remembering Women , which tells the stories of female patriots who were not included in the history books.
Finally, take them to a live show
I have never seen my son get so excited about a live performance of anything in his life as when we saw Hamilton in Chicago. In the months before that, he listened to the soundtrack, read books and watched countless YouTube videos that repeat themselves. Despite the challenging topics, Hamilton really made a positive impact on my son. He knows that he is an immigrant; he really enjoys piano lessons because he wants to write a musical; and now he has an understanding of American history that goes far beyond the printed page.
It contains explicit language and themes, of course. (You can always skip the song “Say No to This,” where Hamilton is “tempted” to romance.) But even contextualizing that language through a musical – and explaining why they’re only for adults – can turn it into an instructive moment.
If you’re already a fan of him, the best thing about your kids loving Hamilton is that you can enjoy it together. Even if the musical isn’t quite historically accurate, you can at least tell your kids why this guy is on the $ 10 bill.