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Family Activities


4. Documenting the Past

With a bit of planning and a list of ideas, family history activities can become part of your everyday lives and unite your family in remarkable ways. Try some of the activities described on this page and see how your past and present can come together. As you do, you can strengthen family relationships, build your family tree, and make fun family memories.

See also this list of Five Minute Family History Activities for everyone.


4. Documenting the Past

Overview: Now is the time to capture memories from the past, for the benefit of current and future generations. Modern technology makes this easier and a lot of fun!

Activities marked by an asterisk (*) take little or no prep time.


*F4-01: Capturing Memories from Seniors
See this blog post for more ways to preserve memories of your loved ones, and find step-by-step instructions in FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Findmypast.
*F4-02: My Family Booklet
The free online, printable booklet My Family: Stories That Bring Us Together is a fun and easy way to tell your own story and capture and preserve your family memories, including adding photos, names, dates, and precious family stories.
*F4-03: 52 Stories Project
These guidelines from FamilySearch help you gather, preserve and share the stories you record during a year's time, week by week. The questions are great ideas for interviewing. See this blog post.
F4-04: Back to Your Roots
Plan a visit or family reunion at places your parents or grandparents were raised or places where they lived or liked to spend time. Visit and record the memories of your loved ones and their family and friends who still live there. (If you can't visit in person, try a virtual visit with Google Earth.
*F4-05: Google Photo Scan App (Android)
Learn about the possibilities of the Google photo scan app. Then try the Android app or the iOS app.
*F4-06: FamilySearch Memories App
See step-by-step instructions in The Family History Guide, Project 2: Memories (FamilySearch), Goal 12. The Louise Louise Cook website also gives an overview and instructions.
F4-07: Create a Video Slideshow with JoyFlips
Use the free Joyflips app to create video slideshows from your FamilySearch photos, as explained in this article.
F4-08: The Year I Was Born
See In-Home Activities and check out The Year I Was Born to see interesting things that happened in the world. The birth year can be changed to see events from other years.

F4-09: Gather Your Records
Gather records of your family and ancestors. Scan or make paper copies of each item. (See Goal 1 and Goal 2 in Project 2: Memories.)

Original documents then need to be protected and preserved. Gather together important records such as vital and religious records, and legal documents. List missing records and get replacements. (See Gather Family Information.) Watch this video for more information.



F4-10: Create a Health History
"Have you compiled a family health history? If not, do you know what diseases or health conditions are hereditary in your family? Are you or your family members at risk for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, or other life-threatening conditions?"

"Decide today how and when you want to begin your family health history! It is a worthwhile project to help you, your children, and grandchildren live longer, healthier lives." Find suggestions, forms to fill out, and read more in Know Your Family Health History • FamilySearch.



Find more activities here:  1. Anytime Activities and Games   2. Plan-Ahead Activities   3. Making Family History   5. Social Media Activities   6. Service Activities   7. Activities for Research   8. Latter-day Saint Activities