1. Create a Family Tree
There are lots of family tree templates online, I loved this one. This is a really simple activity that you could do with your kids in an afternoon. Challenge yourself to go back as far as possible!
2. Draw a Family Timeline
A family timeline is perfect to keep a record of your immediate family. You can add things like when you met your partner, or getting a family pet, you can add birthdays, vacations, and big purchases. This is a great less traditional way to celebrate your family. This activity is also perfect for an after dinner activity. You can display it and add to it whenever a memory comes up or something new and exciting happens.
3. Create a Family Crest or Coat of Arms
A Crest or Coat of Arms is a symbol that represents your family and usually consists of colors and symbols that are meaningful for you.
You may be surprised to find that many countries and states have a coat of arms! Here I was thinking that it was just an English and Scottash thing!
There is a pretty cool Crest-making tool here. You could use a tool to create one or construction paper and markers. No matter how you do it a family Crest can have shared meaning for years to come. If you are a homeschooling family you can use this symbol for your school! I knew one family that had theirs printed onto sweatshirts for the whole family!
4. Write a Book About Your Family
I think every family has one member who is just extraordinary, they have an incredible talent, an unbelievable story or a wild imagination.
In my family we are only the second generation in America, so we have heard my grandparents talk about coming to America, meeting, and falling in love with a first kiss in a snow shrouded gazebo. It is a beautiful story.
One way to celebrate your family is to turn those amazing stories into a book. You can grab a blank book from the Dollar Tree or you can hire artists on a site like Fiverr to make a real hardcover, illustrated story to give as Christmas gifts.
5. Cook a Traditional Meal
If you know your family’s heritage, try a traditional dish you have not tried yet, or visit a local restaurant that specializes in cuisine from that area of the world. It might seem obvious, but we had not done this, we had to travel over an hour to the nearest restaurant!
Likely you have a mixed heritage, why not create a fusion meal! Do some research and innovate!
6. Tour a Childhood Neighborhood or School
Take some time to drive around the neighborhood where you grew up and tell your kids about what it was like! This is a great activity for a family vacation if your have moved far away from your childhood stomping ground, but also a great Saturday afternoon if you still live in the same area.
I have loved seeing my husband’s high school and my mother’s church. My dad loves to tell us about all the houses and businesses he wired as a young electrician. You can call it the Family Tour.
7. Explore Your Heritage
Do you have the blessing of knowing where your family originated? I know this is a privilege for some. With the availability of tests like 23 and Me heritage information is more available than in years past.
If you do know which countries your family is connected with you can write to the embassy to ask for any information about the country, or go to the library and see what you can learn about your family’s country of origin.
8. Make a Family Cookbook
Make a list of all your family’s favorite recipes. This does not have to be a very serious affair. We have Aunt Louise’s meatballs and also Pan Seco, but I know we eat a whole lot of frozen pizza, and a list of our favorite brands would be an accurate representation of our family history.
Keeping a list of family favorites and recipes can also be a great resource for when you are feeling short on dinner inspiration.
Throw the old photos up on the TV! I installed a ROKU chanel that connects to Google Photos, every morning I select the auto album of this day in history and we laugh at how much the kids have grown and talk about what we were doing this day years ago!
9. Look at Old Pictures
It is fun to see everyone in short sleeves in 2019 and inches of ice in 2021!
This is also likely to remind you of some stories about your family that some kids might not know yet! Great way to pass down the family history.
10. Draw a Family Picture
Get everyone involved by getting a piece of paper and have everyone draw a name for who they will draw!
Using paint will make it much more interesting and artistic! Watercolors, acrylics or finger-paint.
11. Take a Family Portrait
I know that it is a lot of work to get everyone ready for a picture. No matter how you get it done, it is worth it.
Next time everyone is around the table, take a casual picture.
Ask everyone to wear black and stand on the porch for a selfie.
Make an appointment at your local department store and get posed up in front of a goofy backdrop.
Have your awesome sister come over to take pictures.
Hire that small business photographer that is always posting on the local Facebook page. #shopsmall
There are a lot of ways to get it done, so just do it. They do not have to be for Christmas, or the first day of school or while you are on vacation. Get a picture and display that thing!
12. Sew a Quilt
There are lots of ways that quilts hold memories. You could send away some meaningful tshirts to get them made into a quilt or save old clothes and piece them yourself.
Quilts are a time honored way to literally pass down the past. I loved this book and this one to really inspire a love for passed down quilts!
If you do not sew, you can hire this out, but be mindful that it is quite expensive. I suggest trying some YouTube tutorials before you give up, hand sewing is a great activity that kids can help with!
