I actually vote for beginning with early modern as well. It’s a little more tangible for younger kids. If you live in the USA, there’s so very much available for field trips, etc. E.g., we live in NJ, so when we studied the American Revolution, there was so much great stuff to make it “real” for the kids. We live only about 45 mins from Jockey Hollow in Morristown, so we’ve picniced there and seen the soldier’s huts with the kids. Plus we live only about 1 hr and 15 mins from Valley Forge and they do a huge President’s weekend bash when you can “enlist” in the Continental Army, etc.
There’s tons a cool Civil War stuff in the South…anyway. It’s a little easier to separate fact from fiction with modern history as opposed to trying to help kids understand the difference between myths and history when doing Ancients.
just my two cents!