A kid friendly activity at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) aims to introduce children to Holocaust education while sparing them the grim details that may not be age appropriate.

The program is based on Karen Levine’s children’s book on the life of Hana Brady called Hana’s Suitcase. The activity includes a suitcase filled with toys and books and teaches kids about Hana’s plight as a Jewish child in Eastern Europe leading up to World War II, when she was separated from her family.

“So what we’re doing with young children is talking about the right to a family and what it would be like to be separated from your family,” CMHR Interpretive Guide Elizabeth Byron said. “We’re asking kids, ‘If you had to pick three toys from this pile and you had 30 seconds to decide which ones you would take on a trip when you were being separated from your family, which toys would you pick that would make you feel connected to them?’”

“We’re trying to build that empathy for what it would be like to be in that situation.”

Byron says it’s important to educate young children on tragic historical events like the Holocaust, while keeping the lessons age appropriate.

“A lot of it starts with the understanding that this is a story about people,” Byron said. “I think when we talk about things like the Holocaust we talk about how 6-million people died and I can’t even picture 6-million people so it’s important to build that personal connection, particularly with kids.”

“I think that sense of justice and fairness, that all kids should have access to a safe home and a loving family has to start early because it’s a really deep understanding we want to build in kids.”

Byron also says a lot of people don’t think the Holocaust is something children should learn about at a young age. She argues lessons about anything can be applied if it’s done appropriately.

“Any topic can be made accessible for different ages,” she said. “We want to start with the basic idea that everyone should have the right to safety and religious freedom and then you can build on what that entails and what it looks like when those rights are denied as they get older.”

“We really just want to start with empathy.”

Byron says Hana was killed in the Holocaust, but her brother - who she was separated from - is alive and living in Toronto. 

The event is free with the price of admission and is set up in the 4th floor gallery Examining the Holocaust.

CMHR staff members are at the table to take kids through the activity.