How To Help Your Child Make a Family Tree

Children are usually very interested in learning about their family history. Making a family tree is the ideal way to help them do it. This is a fun project that can be done together with your child or grandchild.

1. Get a small binder or scrapbook and have child put a picture of himself/herself on the cover and let them decorate it accordingly. Also on the outside he/she can print 'My Family Tree'.

2. On the first page he/she can draw a large picture of a tree with as many branches as will be needed for all of the family members that will be added. He/she can then color the tree and add a few leaves.

3. Print the names of all the known family members on the branches beginning with child's name and any siblings he/she may have on the lowest branches. Then add the parents' names on the next branches. Above those branches will be added the parents of their mother and father (their grandparents) on each of the appropriate branches. Continue in this way with as many family names as are known, each on their appropriate branches of the tree.

4. On the following page print the name of the child and add information such as: full name, age, birth date, weight at birth, color of hair and eyes, current weight and height, what they are interested in, who their friends are, if they have a pet add the pet's name and any other information they would like to add about themselves to their page. Then attach a picture of the child to their own page.

5. Do the same on separate pages for each of the child's siblings with a picture of each brother and sister added also on each of their own pages.

6. On additional separate pages do the same for each of the parents, the grandparents and any other relatives that have been added to the family tree with as much information as can be obtained. The questions on these pages could include where they were born, where they went to school, if they have brothers or sisters, what type of things they enjoyed when they were children, did they live in the country or in the city, did they have far to go to school and any other questions that they would like to have in their family tree book about their relatives. Also, when possible attach appropriate pictures to each page for each family member.

This gives a child the opportunity to connect with his relatives and by getting to know them, to create a closer bond. It also gives the child a chance to communicate in an equal conversation with their older relatives. It will help to instill self-esteem and confidence in a child by allowing him to see his importance in the family unit.