Parents
As the parent or trusted adult of a Connecticut History Day student, you will be able to watch your child develop their project and become a historian. Parents and adults are often called upon for help: whether it’s with construction of a project, assisting with technology, proofreading an annotated bibliography or writing for their project, or transporting them to conduct research or to a contest.
Whatever the role, parents are an important part of the History Day experience. Please note that teachers can adapt the History Day project and process to meet the needs of their curriculum.
Assignment requirements, rubrics and deadlines may vary, so any questions related to school-level contests must be directed to your child’s teacher. If you have questions about Regional, State or National contests, feel free to contact the regional or state coordinators.
If your child’s school does not participate in History Day, please contact us for information about how to participate. If you are a homeschool parent, we can assist you with getting started and direct you to the necessary resources.
Helpful Tips for History Day Parents
- Maintain communication with your child’s teacher regarding the registration process, deadlines, and submission requirements.
- Keep an open dialogue with your child about their chosen topic and how it relates to the annual theme. Judges will be looking for clear connections to the theme.
- Ask your child about the sources they are using. Conversations about their research will help them develop their own voice and distinguish their ideas from those of the authors whose works they are citing.
- Encourage your child to manage their time efficiently, and if part of a group, contribute effectively to the group project.
- Bring your child to research locations and contest sites. While much of their research can be done online, some historical organizations do not offer digitized materials. Conducting research onsite can be powerful tool in the learning process.
- Support your child’s decisions for their project by reviewing the general and category-specific rules and offering to read their written materials for consistency and formatting. Parents should only help with tasks that are unsafe for your child to complete on their own, e.g. use of power tools or cutting implements.
- History Day students can enlist the help of others to transport exhibits and performance props, but only the students are permitted set up the exhibits or props and operate documentary and website equipment.
- Remind your child that the History Day experience is about much more than the competition. They are learning important life skills about time management, teamwork, communication, creativity, and self-expression, and hopefully having fun along the way too!
For more information about Reasonable Help, please see the NHD Rule Book.
