COLLECTING IDEAS
COLLECTING IS A GREAT HOBBY! TRY A ‘COLLECTING IDEA’ TO INSPIRE CHILDREN TO LOVE FAMILY HISTORY!
COLLECT HEIRLOOMS
Heirlooms are family treasures. When you have something that belonged to an ancestor, it makes the connection with them stronger. When children see and hold heirlooms, they are touching something that their ancestor touched. They can imagine their ancestor with the heirloom they now have and gain a sense of how time passes quickly. Their ancestor is no longer alive but the object they treasured is still with them. Behind an heirloom there is usually a story that has been passed down with it. The story often tells what was important to that ancestor or an experience that was special to him or her. Children can ask parents, grandparents and great-grandparents what they have that belonged to their ancestors. They can take pictures and record the stories about them. If they are given an heirloom, they should be encouraged to keep it safe but visible so they can see it regularly. As children regularly notice the displayed heirlooms, they will ask questions and be reminded of the ancestor it belonged to.
ANCESTOR BIRTH YEAR COIN BOOK
Idea from Scott Fisher and David Lambert of Extreme Genes
Collect coins from the year that your ancestors were born. It’s a bonus if you can find a coin from the specific country they lived. To organize the collection, purchase a 3-ring binder and sheets from a coin store. Slide the coins into the slots in the sheet. Cut a piece of paper to fit in the slot with the coin and write the name, year and country of the ancestor. Inexpensive old coins can be found at coin stores or on eBay. Kids and grandkids will love this!
Alternative: If you are struggling to find the specific year, collect coins from the time period that your ancestors were alive.
COLLECT DOCUMENTS
The information in the following types of documents can be used to piece together the life of your ancestor. Each type of document has unique information that may not be found in other documents. The more documents children can find for an ancestor, the more they will learn about them:
- Birth certificates
Christening records
Death certificates
Marriage certificates
Military service records
Awards
Diplomas
Letters
Newspaper articles
Journals
Immigration records
Wills
Deeds
Death certificates
Cemetery records
Funeral cards
Obituaries
COLLECT PHOTOS
Photographs are most often taken at significant moments, especially for our ancestors (taking pictures was not as easy and cheap as it is now). Children can learn a lot about their ancestors by looking at photos of them. Collecting photos will ensure that these moments and memories will be preserved. Gather physical and/or digital copies of photos. When they find physical copies of photos, they can be preserved them by making them digital. Scan them (some scanners can scan one photo per second) or take pictures of them. Collecting and preserving photos will keep them safe and allow them to be kept for generations and shared with extended relatives online.