Connect With Your Grandparents Through Hobbies and Family History

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How much do you know about your grandparents? Although your grandma and grandpa may know your favorite book, food and place to go, do you know theirs?

Learn more about your grandparents by inviting them to take you to the library.

You can start by asking them to share their favorite book with you. Find out why it is their favorite book and who their favorite character in the book is.

Have you ever been curious about what it was like for your grandparents growing up? Ask them to help you find photographs, books or movies that show what it was like when they were kids.

Ask them what kind of games they played, and what was the world like at the time? Did your grandparents watch the first American land on the moon on TV? And who was this American? Get ideas on how to learn more about your grandparents by reading Grandparents by Roser Capdevila.

Does your grandparent like bingo, and do you like crafts? Some libraries, such as Pennsylvania’s Shaler North Hills Library, host “Grandmornings” where children and their grandparents share breakfast, bingo, crafts and learn how to find information online. Ask your grandparents to help you find similar events at a library near you.

Libraries are also a great place to learn more about your family tree. Do you know where your grandparents are from, and do you know what your family tree looks like? Read The Everything Family Tree Book: Finding, Charting, and Preserving Your Family History by William G. Hartley to learn how you can create your own family tree.

Many librarians can also offer tips on how to interview your grandparents and the type of questions you should ask. Here are some examples to get you started:

1. Where is our family originally from?
2. Do we have relatives in other countries?
3. Can you tell me more about our family history?

Once you have a family tree drawn out, you can create a family photo album with your grandparents. Check out 1000 Families: The Family Album of Planet Earth, which shows photo albums of families from around the world. This might give you an idea about the kind of photos and items you may want to include in your own family photo album.

If you are short on ideas, ask for help. Librarians are great resources for finding books on family trees or events that you and your grandparent may enjoy.

Recommended Resources

Kids and Grandparents: An Activity Book (Family Fun)
By Ann Love, Jane Drake, and Heather Collins

Grand Activities: More Than 150 Fabulous Fun Activities for Kids to Do With Their Grandparents
By Shari Sasser

Me and My Family Tree
By Joan Sweeney and Annette Cable