The American Revolution, often viewed through the lens of soldiers and statesmen, holds a lesser-known narrative: the experiences of its civilian children. These young witnesses provide a unique, albeit often overlooked, perspective on the war’s impact. However, authentic contemporary accounts written by children are scarce. Most of these stories emerged decades later, passed down through generations, and were documented in the 19th century or beyond. Here are four such narratives, starting with those from the Battles of Lexington and Concord and concluding with the Battle of Bunker Hill.
“…for children play is serious learning.
Play is really the work of childhood.”– Fred Rogers
At Discovery Museum, we focus on helping kids develop the skills to learn about their world: exploration and experimentation; persistence and resilience; understanding their own and others’ emotions. Real stuff and simple materials are our preferred tools for learning.
Our philosophy is that kids learn through play. We offer play in both a STEM-rich environment and a natural and inviting outdoor space. If you offer kids open-ended explorations, they will follow their natural instincts to observe, predict, and experiment—in other words, to be scientists.