Kids Corner
1. About Family History 2. My Family Tree 3. Group Fun and Games 4. My Memories 5. Family History Stories 6. Service 7. For Latter-day Saints Family Individuals Youth | Index
In his book, The Secrets of a Happy Family (quoted here), Bruce Feiler records a conversation he had with Marshall Duke, a professor at Emory University who researched American families. According to Professor Duke, "The more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger the sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem, and the more successfully they believed their families functioned." The Kids Corner of The Family History Guide is a place where children can go to discover and experience the joys of family history. Read more in this blog post: Six Tips for Involving Children In Family History And Helping Them To Love It
More helpful links:
Here are some additional coaching and motivation tips:
This is your place for family history fun! * Learn about your family tree, your parents' and grandparents' lives, and about other ancestors. * Play cool games and discover some great activities for family history. * Try this page out, and share the ideas and activities with your siblings, cousins, and friends! * You can find more activities in the Family, Individuals, and Youth pages of The Family History Guide. When you need help, be sure to ask your parents, a leader, or a family member you know.
At RootsTech 2018, Elder Renlund quoted President Nelson: "We encourage everyone to get on the covenant path as soon as possible—even, especially, when they are new and tender in the gospel—and then stay focused on the blessings of the temple.” He added: “This encouragement is because the data are incontrovertible that young men who participate in temple and family history work have a higher rate of being ordained elders and going on missions. New converts who participate in temple and family history work are retained at a higher rate ... Those who are new and tender in the gospel, he said, include 12-year-old youth and new converts ... As they are focused on temple and family history work, more will remain active, more will be protected when the storms and fierce winds strike...We invite all new converts and new 12-year-olds to discover and gather their families and become active participants in the plan of salvation. We desire to involve 11-year-old children and even younger children in family history work and encourage them to qualify for a limited-use temple recommend when they turn 12 years old...Thus, they can and are encouraged to perform proxy baptisms in temples whenever and wherever possible...Involvement of 12-year-olds and new converts will have a “halo effect” on all who help...Faith in the Savior will increase."(watch Elder Renlund's full address here.)
At the same conference, Sister Joy D. Jones, Primary General President and a member of the Temple and Family History Executive Council, said, "Children love to learn about their ancestors. Family stories can teach them important lessons and help them develop a foundation of strength they can draw from throughout their lives.” She talked about the fact that temple and family history consultants can lead young people into the world of family history along with their parents and other family members, and how working with children might require different methods than working with adults, “but I promise you that it’s worth the effort and the necessary adaptations and creativity ... Plus, it can be fun ... children can be the initiators to family history work in their families. Parents and leaders can share stories and experiences with children in the car, at the dinner table, at bedtime, and one on one ... Acting out a meaningful family story, learning about their family culture or even family recipes, viewing pictures of their relatives as children, or talking about and recording their four generations in the My Family booklet are all simple ways to begin connecting children." Watch Sister Jones's full address and read the blog post here.
Additional resources:
Activities marked by an asterisk (*) take little or no prep time.
Find more activities here: 1. About Family History 2. My Family Tree 3. Group Fun and Games 4. My Memories 5. Family History Stories 6. Service
