Tracking yesterday's parents and grandparents-seems simple enough. When in need of a rainy day activity, sit down with your kids, your spouse, an old family photo album or two, maybe the telephone and grandma's phone number...
This can be as simple or elaborate as you choose (some researchers spend years creating a complete and current family history!).
For an afternoon, I'd suggest tracking as far as your children, their parents, their aunts and uncles and their grandparents.
In our family, this completely fills a large poster board with no room for graphics!
With this information, you may want to go to the next level:
birth dates and wedding dates
-Still sound simple?-
If you're organized and really want to include more, try going as far back as it takes to enter the United States (and from where?).
Our roots are important, and helping your children get in touch with theirs might bring a new appreciation for our ancestors struggles.
Once you've plotted out what to include, decide how you want to display it.
An 8" x 10" of parchment neatly lettered (suitable for framing!)
A poster board-no kidding-with a tree markered on and a leaf/flower/branch for each member.
Little kids will relate to photos-you might even use a pre-cut, multiple-opening matboard.
Label the names of who's in each photo.
Enjoy this one. You'll be glad you took the time (and so will your kids!) -'Till next time-Rose
