Initially, our around the world plans did not include Poland, but this changed when we found it difficult to find affordable accommodation in Greece during August. Apparently everyone wants to go to Greece in August. Who knew? After some research we decided on Krakow, Poland. It looked like a family friendly city and we were intrigued by its’ history. Once we decided on Krakow, we thought about going to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi Concentration Camp. But what about our 8-year old daughter Sydney? Would this be too much for her?
When we had talked with others about whether we should bring Sydney to Auschwitz, we got varying reactions: everything from absolutely DO NOT take her to yes take her, she can handle it.
After much discussion we decided that Auschwitz was just too important of a place and part of history to not take her. This horrible time in history continues to have an impact even today on our political landscape. The other factor in our decision was in all reality we probably would not be visiting Krakow again any time soon.
Our decision to take her was not a light one, so to help her gain some understanding of the significance of Auschwitz we incorporated WWII history into her homeschooling. To help prepare her, we had her learn about WWII and the Holocaust by reading the Dairy of Ann Frank, touring the Ann Frank house in Amsterdam, reading about WWII and the Holocaust and talking about what it must have been like.
Despite this preparation, as we took the bus out to Auschwitz, I was queasy with doubt as to whether this was the right decision. I was not sure what to expect and kept on asking myself would this be too much for Sydney? What if I traumatized Sydney? Personally, before visiting Auschwitz, shocking images of piles of dead bodies and half starved survivors from my high school and college history textbooks and documentaries kept running through my mind. My anxiety was made worse upon arriving at Auschwitz they would not give Sydney a headset for the guided tour as they said it was too graphic.
The three of us at Auschwitz
However, after visiting Auschwitz, I think my imagination was my own worse enemy. I have realized that the place is not about shocking visitors with graphic images, but is more of a memorial to the 1 million people who were murdered here. Auschwitz provides a place for people to grieve and remember, especially for those who will never know the fate of their loved ones. On the day we visited, family members could be seen remembering there loved ones by leaving flowers, candles, and notes.
Auschwitz Memorial
After visiting I realized that Sydney did not fully comprehend the depravity of Auschwitz. She saw it as just like any other historical site that we visited on our travels. She did not find it scary or overwhelming. What I am certain of, visiting Auschwitz will give her a much more in-depth understanding and empathy later in life.
Sydney in Birkenau
In learning about the Holocaust in a school setting, it can easily become about memorization of statistics, facts, and dates and thus in the process it loses its’ humanity. But actually seeing Auschwitz brings a whole new level of comprehension and empathy for those who suffered horribly. For example, I knew that the camp was large, at one point housing close to 139,000 people at a time, but standing and seeing the endless line of chimneys across the horizon makes this much more real. To actually see the size of the cattle cars that held 80 to 100 people and to realize that these people would be crammed into these cattle cars for days at a time is horrifying. When Sydney learns about the holocaust in school later on in life, she now will be able to picture Auschwitz and hopefully be able to see beyond just the facts and statistics. Seeing makes it much more real and human.
Transport car in Birkenau
I know some will be appalled that we took our 8-year-old daughter to Auschwitz and I also know that this was not a fun outing for Sydney. But I also strongly believe that one reason we travel is to gain a better understanding of our world today. Although it may be difficult, I think it does a disservice to sugarcoat or avoid talking about and seeing those difficult things in life. When we avoid talking about difficult and complex things that happen in life with our children, it gives the opportunity for things like the Holocaust to occur again. This is another reason why Auschwitz stands; to remind us what happens when we become indifferent to the plight of others.
Totally agree Kerri, especially with that last paragraph. We shouldn’t avoid visiting places where horrific things happened or talking about dark periods of history – we must make an effort to remember and think about them instead to ensure we learn from them. I bet that in years to come Sydney will thank you for taking her on this trip; I hope to visit too one day.
Thanks Amy. After visiting Auschwitz I can now really understand why it is required for every Polish middle school child to visit Auschwitz.
“To actually see the size of the cattle cars that held 80 to 100 people and to realize that these people would be crammed into these cattle cars for days at a time is horrifying. ”
When we went to the Holocaust Museum they had a railway cattle car that was used to transport people to the camps. Visitors to the museum are allowed to stand in the cattle car and feel the movement – it was overwhelming. By the time we left the museum several hours later I was emotionally spent, but I think it’s so important to remember history, good and bad, because it’s how we move forward as a society.
And for what it’s worth, as a retired teacher you gave Sydney an opportunity to learn in way that she’d never experience in a classroom with a book in front of her. And as you say, so much of it was beyond her comprehension and that’s okay because when she is older, she’ll understand – a good balance.
Wow! That must have been a powerful moment that reading alone could not have brought and something that you will not soon forget.
I love this post and the fact that you took Sydney. I absolutely applaud you taking her and hope to one day visit myself and perhaps take my children.
Thanks Simone! It was a difficult decision, but we are glad that we did it. We are enjoying reading about your travels too! Hope that you are having a great time in Thailand.
Thank you for sharing your insights. We’re a Jewish homeschooling family that will be traveling to Poland next year. My children will be 10 and 12 and I will be weighing this decision myself. I am leaning towards taking them – especially since the 12-yr-old will be having her Bat Mitzvah just a month after our trip. I think you hit the nail on the head with the importance of educating ahead of time – and, of course, reading the sensitivity of your child.
Thanks Jennifer. Please let me know what you guys decide to do and your experience.
I am having a similar dilema at the moment about taking our 11 and 8 (nearly 9) year old next month. We have spent 5 months travelling around Norway and Finland in our motorhome chasing the Northern Lights and are now heading south for the summer. We have studied the Sami and the Vikings all as a hands on, immerse ourselves type affair and the children have benefitted hugely from the experience.
We have now started our next topic WWII by reading The Book Thief together. So we drive past Krakow. Do we? Or don’t we? Is it too good an opportunity (it seems wrong describing something as serious as horrific as Auschwitz as a “good opportunity” but I think my meaning is probably clear) to pass by? I have no idea when I would next be able to take them. We have also researched and learnt about Anne Frank and as her final days were spent at Auschwitz it is something they have already learnt about.
We will probably go and make a decision on the day. With a 2 and 3 year old we will need to take it in turns anyway so maybe I can go in with one child and then my husband with the other. This blog has certainly helped so many thanks for the information.
Becki it is a hard decision. But, I think that you know your children best and how they deal with difficult issues. Please let me know whether you decided to take your children to Auschwitz or not and how it turned out.
Hi Kerri
We opted for Sauchenhausen in the end for a number of reasons and having experienced that I would say ours would have been fine at Auschwitz.
We wrote a blog about our experiences that you may be interested in.
http://www.aurora-addicts.com/visiting-concentration-camp-children/
It’s a tough call and one that is so individual. the added complication we had was that there were four children (2 who were really young) but i ‘m so glad we made it work for us. It was such a precious and important experience.
It’s not one I would have attempted if they hadn’t done the ground work beforehand though. For us that was the most important part.
Becki
Thanks Becky for sharing your experience and post! It is a very powerful.
Hi Kerri,
Well written and well thought out! I intend taking my daughters there in 2015, they will be almost 10 and 13 years old and I feel they are more than capable of dealing with it. I shall also implement WW11 in home schooling as we will be on the road for a number of months. I will admit that I have kept my plan a little quiet from friends until I had read more and really looked into it, your article helped cement the idea.
Thanks!
Thank you for this article. I was despairing to find solid experiences and advice from like minded traveling parents.
I am curious whether anyone who has visited Auschwitz-Birkenau could provide some guidance on whether it is too overwhelming for a child who will be almost 7 at the time. We have three kids (14, 10, and 6) and are trying to decide whether one of us needs to stay back at the hotel with the youngest while the others visit. I don’t expect that she will comprehend the significance. We have already talked about it briefly with her. I’m more curious about the appropriateness of the visit and tour itself.
I LOVE this! Thank you so much for sharing. We are headed to Poland in Oct and we have 4 boys. 2 teens and the others are 12 and 9. We have been debating whether or not to take them. We have decided we will and would not use the headset for them. I was wondering though… In signing up for your little one, did you have to pay the fee even if she didn’t use the headphones? I’m just wondering how to sign them up. Did you sign up online or when you got there? Any info helps. Thank you! 🙂
Oh, and I meant no headphones for the younger ones, not the teens. 🙂