13 U.S. Presidents that Totally Confuse Kids

George Washington? Not confusing at all. First President, cherry tree, blah, blah, blah.Monday is President's Day, which for my children has nearly nothing to do with history and everything to do with a three-day weekend. I asked my kids and their friends about the U.S. Presidents and what they knew about them. I got blank stares and blinking in reply.

Maybe it's because my kids are too young. Maybe it's because most students aren't asked to memorize the Presidents in order, as I was in elementary school. Or maybe it's because some of the Presidents - especially for younger kids - are sort of confusing.

Here's a very silly look at the most confusing U.S. Presidents for kids:


Grover Cleveland + Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland and Grover Cleveland
Those two mustache dudes look alike. Because they're both from Cleveland? No way. Those guys are the same person. OHHHH… but not consecutively. So he was President twice which is why they say Obama is the 44th President and stuff but really there are only 43 Presidents. Sigh…

Related: Commander in Chef! 10 recipes inspired by our favorite presidents


John Adams and John Quincy Adams
John Adams and John Quincy Adams
OK. These are the white-haired Adams dudes that are not the same guy. Wait. What?


Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
He was a president? Are you sure? He sounds like a duck. I know what "Millard" means, ok? I'm pretty sure he's a duck.


George H.W. Bush + George W. Bush
George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush
What do you mean WHICH George Bush? There's more than one? They're not the same guy? That one dude was President before Obama, right? That was a really, really long time ago. Like 3 years or something.

Related: 20 baby names inspired by Presidents and First Ladies


John Tyler
John Tyler
I get the "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" part and how it has something to do with a big battle - but Tyler, too? What did Tyler do in the battle? He wasn't in the battle? So how did he get to be president; was it just because he was in Aerosmith? And they really called him "His Accidency"? Whispers: Did he have a lot of accidents? #1 or #2?


Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Was he a good guy or bad guy? I feel like he's really important because he invented the peace sign and they made a Halloween mask of his face.


Teddy Roosevelt + FDR
Teddy Roosevelt and FDR
Is it just me or are a lot of these Presidents related to each other? I know all about these guys. One rode a wheelchair and one rode a horse. I know that because the horse one was in Night at The Museum. Everyone knows that.

Related: What I want my kids to know about President's Day


Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
I totally know who Hillary Clinton is. She's the one who is always mad at other countries. So you're telling me that her husband was president?


Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
OK. So he's the Ford guy from Michigan who invented cars. So you're saying that President Ford DIDN'T get famous for making cars? He was from Michigan, right? That's where they make them. And Ford is a car, right? Is this a trick?


Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
This one has to be a hoax. There is no way we had a president named "Martin Van Buren." Especially back then. They didn't have vans or even cars, right? Now maybe if he were named "Martin Buggy Buren," I'd think about it. You know... His hair is awesome.

For 6 more U.S. Presidents that totally confuse kids, visit Babble!

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