Planting Seeds of Interest for Future Family Historians

I had the wonderful opportunity to earlier this year to speak to a class of young people about the legacy of W.F. High School in my hometown of Newport, Arkansas (click HERE to read more about that presentation). During that discussion, I also talked to them about getting started researching their own family history. I told them that family history serves as a bridge between generations linking us to our ancestors and how knowing our family history is so important. This is something that I often think about with my son and nephews. I want them to not only know their family history, but to also be excited about as well. And let’s face it, family history is not known for its excitement. So how do I get them involved in family history? I meet them where they are.

My son loves videography, editing, and digital media, so I have him come to the cemetery with me to record videos of us cleaning headstones (click HERE to watch that video). While we are there I talk to him about our relatives and how we are related to them. One of my nephews is really into photos and photography, so I sent him my Wordless Wednesday photos. He took those photos and designed a photo book for me. I find what interests them and incorporate that into my research when I am with them. Family photos have also been a great way to get the conversation of their great grandparents started. Those are just a couple of ideas on how I started planting little seeds of genealogy interest. Listed below are a few other ways you can get young people involved in family history.

• Visit an ancestral location: exploring the communities where their ancestors lived can be a powerful way to connect children to their family history.
• Create a family tree with them: Visual aids can bring otherwise boring statistics to life. Start with them and their immediate family members and work your way backwards.
• Technology is their friend, so use it with them: Incorporating technology is a great way to get young people involved. Ask them to help you create a digital family tree, database, or family history puzzles and trivia games. They may be able to help you start a podcast, blog, or a virtual tour your ancestral home.
• Let home movies be a gateway to their past: Let the young person in your life help you cast the digital files, of photos or home movies, from your computer to your TV, so the family can watch home movies together. Your next movie night can me all about your family history.