A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF…

There is a need for parental innovation and support in this venture. If our children grow in their desire to express themselves, they can compile a written or visual diary of a typical week, interview each other (and themselves) about their current lives, and express themselves with photography, art and personal writing.

Consider examples of the following, for us, as parents and grandparents who link closely with our children and see their increasing sense of personal relevance. Family history then becomes an enjoyably challenging voyage of family discovery and self-discovery. A sample list of our children’s activities could include the following.

• Descriptions of their lives at home, at school and in social organisations

• Interviewing parents, grandparents and close family friends about their lives and our forebears’ lives

• Using family history in school subjects such as art, writing, history, cooking, woodwork, recreation and computer literacy

• Learning to research in major online sites such as Familysearch, Findmypast, Ancestry and Myheritage

• Selecting a subject to track across decades e.g. toys over generations, sport in our family, fashions through our ancestors’ lives, church and our family, hobbies and games over generations, leisure time, family homes lived in over the past 100 years and collecting historical newspaper articles

• Plotting our family on maps leads to family immigration and settlement

• Finding stories behind family memorabilia

• Mastering technical skills e.g. computers and on-camera interviews