Growing Little Leaves: Family History for Children - Growing Little Leaves: Genealogy for Children

Jack O Lantern Family Tree

9/15/2017

Jack O'Lantern FREE Family Tree Printable from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

I was going to wait until later in October to post this new little family tree printable, but I thought I would do so earlier, so people would have plenty of time to use it as Halloween approaches. It's pretty simple; the child's name goes in the box at the bottom, and then his/her parents,' grandparents,' and great-grandparents' names are written within the other boxes. (Great-grandparent couples must share their box.)

There is a version both with and without the little black cat peeking out from behind the child's jack-o'-lantern. My daughter wanted a kitty in hers, so that's how it ended up there. (Click on either image to download the two-page PDF with both versions.)

Jack O' Lantern FREE Family Tree Printable from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Jack O'Lantern FREE Family Tree Printable from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Sometimes it's fun for kids to visualize a family 'tree' in different ways, so I thought my kids would enjoy this new take on a genealogy chart and I'm happy to pass it on to you! Enjoy!

©2017 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

Grandparents As Teachers

8/24/2017

Grandparents As Teachers with FREE Printables from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Grandparents Day is coming up on Sunday, September 10, so I have been thinking a lot about ways in which to remember, honor, and document our relationships with our grandparents.

When my brother and I were young children, there was a period during which both of our parents were working full time and our grandparents watched us during the day. And I was thinking about that time the other day and realized how much our grandma and grandpa taught us while they were caring for us.

Naturally, my grandparents had a role in teaching us how to be nice to each other and how to use good manners and things of that nature, but they also taught us a lot of practical skills. My grandmother taught me how to sew a button. She would give me an old sock and her tin of random buttons, and I would just keep sewing on buttons until my fingers hurt. My grandfather taught us how to play the card game, Uno. He also taught my brother how to play chess, but I didn't have the patience for it at the time. He was a woodworking hobbyist, and he taught us how to hammer a nail and use a vise to hold things while you were working on them.

These may seem like small little everyday memories, but now that my grandparents are gone, they mean the world to me. I want to document those memories, so my kids have some insights into my relationship with my grandparents. I also want my kids to think about what their grandparents have taught them (and are still teaching them).

I created these simple printables for getting kids to think about how their grandparents have been a teacher to them. Please feel free to use them with your family, playgroup, or church group. This activity is not limited to children - adults can and should also write about or draw what their grandparents taught them. My intents for these worksheets are: 1.) To get families talking about the importance of the grandparent-grandchild relationship and 2.) To provide a concrete, kid-friendly way in which to document some of our everyday memories of our grandparents. (Click on either image to download the two-page PDF.)

What Grandma Taught Me FREE Printable from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

What Grandpa Taught Me FREE Printable from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

If you are a grandparent or grandparent-to-be, here are a few resources I found online that speak to a grandparent's role as a teacher:

Five Important Things Grandparents Can Teach Grandchildren
10 Things Grandchildren Can Learn From Their Grandparents
Grandparents Are Teachers, Too (Infographic)

I also want to draw your attention to a Grandparents Day campaign organized by CaringAcrossGenerations.org, to let your lawmakers know how much we value the aging population AND the caregivers who dedicate their lives to upholding their quality of life. If you go to this website (postcards.care), you can create a postcard. Upload a photo of a loved one, briefly tell their story or say why they matter to you, and the postcard will be sent to your Senators, free of charge.

©2017 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

Mother's Day Adjective Worksheets

4/20/2017

FREE Mother's Day Adjective Worksheets from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

The other day, my Kindergartner brought home a worksheet about adjectives ('describing words,' as they call them). And that gave me an idea for some Mother's Day-themed worksheets involving adjectives.

I always love it when my kids bring home crafts, worksheets, or other projects from school that show they were thinking of me or another family member. These worksheets will encourage kids to think of words to describe their mom, or a person in their life who acts as a mother figure.

The first worksheet is very simple and includes ten boxes in which a child can write descriptive words about their mom and draw a picture of her. (If a child is not yet writing, have an adult write down what they say.)

The second worksheet includes a flower on which the child can draw or glue a photo (of any mother figure in their lives) in the center and write a descriptive word in each flower petal. The flower can then be cut out and given to that person for Mother's Day. This flower worksheet may also be used to honor a deceased mother figure in your family. Encouraging kids to write down their memories of loved ones, even if it is just one word at a time, is an important step in learning how to document family history and memories.

Click on each image to download a PDF.

I hope that you and the children in your life find these worksheets helpful and enjoyable as you and your family prepare to celebrate Mother's Day next month.

©2017 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

Book Review: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

4/20/2017

Book Review: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier // GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

Part of honoring your family's history involves remembering family members who have passed away. Dealing with the loss of family members and processing the subsequent grief can be difficult for the younger members of our families. Ghosts, a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier, explores themes of death, loss, fear, and family heritage and tradition.

Cat is an average California teenager who is apprehensive over having to move upstate with her mom, dad, and younger sister, Maya, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. As Cat and Maya soon find out, their new town, Bahía de la Luna, is historically known for the thin veil that exists between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Through the course of the book, Cat and Maya, who are part Hispanic, learn a little about their maternal grandmother, who passed away before they were born. The girls' mother laments over her troubled relationship with her mother, and expresses regret over not learning about or taking pride in her mother's Mexican traditions and recipes. With the help of neighbors and new friends, the girls start to learn a little more about traditional Mexican food and celebrations. They even build a traditional ofrenda for their grandmother in their home.

Like other Hispanic communities, every year, Bahía de la Luna hosts a festival to commemorate Día de los Muertos. Unlike at other community festivals, though, the ghosts of loved ones actually DO make themselves visible and speak and sing and dance with the living like they were any other party guests. Cat attends the festival saddened that Maya is too sick to join the party, but still hoping to find and speak with her deceased grandmother.

Throughout the story, Maya struggles with the physical limitations of her cystic fibrosis, and Cat struggles with her fears of ghosts, the unknown, and losing her sister. In addition to the theme of 'resurrecting' family tradition and culture, this book has a unique, but comforting way of using the folklore of Día de los Muertos to paint a picture of what the afterlife might be like, AND to emphasize that our loved ones are still with us, even after they leave their mortal lives.

I recommend this graphic novel for Grades 3 and up.

©2017 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

Easter Memories

4/15/2017

A little last minute, but I've created a little interview sheet for kids take with them tomorrow for family Easter festivities. There are a few simple questions, along with spaces to record the names of the person being interviewed and the interviewer. The questions are about favorite Easter family traditions, food, and childhood memories. Click on the image below for a PDF to download.

Easter Memories Interview FREE Download // GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Click on image to be directed to PDF.

Family holidays and gatherings are great times to share of family traditions and memories, and kids can get the conversations going! Encourage your children and grandchildren to keep asking questions about your family's past, and get them in the habit of recording those memories!

©2017 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

Childhood Christmas Memories Interview

12/12/2016

Childhood Christmas Memories Interview from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Family gatherings make the holiday season a great time to talk with elder family members about family heritage and history. We've all seen the lists of recommended questions about birth, deaths, people and places that we should ask our family members before it's too late. But there is so much MORE to family history than just names, dates, and places. What about our memories of people, places, and traditions of the past? They are just as, if not more, important to our families' histories as the stuff we add to a pedigree chart.

I recommend getting the younger family members involved in talking with older family members about their childhood Christmas memories. Below is a list of Christmas-related questions that kids can ask other family members. Not only that, but I recommend that the kids themselves record their answers to these questions, letting their memories also become meaningful records in our family history files.

Childhood Christmas Questions

How did your family decorate their house for Christmas? What did your Christmas tree look like and what did you decorate it with?

At whose house did you celebrate Christmas with your extended family? Who was there? Describe what the house looked like.

Did you attend church with your family on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? If so, which church did you attend? Describe what the service was like.

What games did your family like to play together at Christmas gatherings?

What was your favorite Christmas gift you received as a child?

What gifts did you NOT like getting for Christmas?

Was there a gift you really, really wanted but did not get? If so, what was it?

What was your favorite holiday food served by your family? What was your least favorite holiday food?

Do you remember Christmas shopping with your family? Which stores did you go to? Describe the store decorations, if you remember them.

What kinds of Christmas presents do you remember giving to your parents and/or siblings?

What kinds of smells do you remember from Christmastime experiences?

What other special holiday traditions do you remember from your childhood? Baking days? Crafts? Special songs or prayers? Watching holiday movies or plays or reading holiday stories?

I'm sure there are more holiday-related questions you can think of that may be more specific to your family, but this list is a good start to get people thinking and talking about childhood Christmases of the past. When children hear their elders talk about their own childhoods, a special connection between the generations is formed, because the kids then realize that these grown-ups were once kids who had a lot of the same experiences that they are having.

©2016 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

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Magnetic Family Christmas Tree

12/10/2016

Magnetic Family Christmas Tree Craft from GrowingLittleLeavesl.com

It has been awhile since I last posted an idea for a hands-on family tree activity, so this week I created a new one that also incorporates the holiday season. The Magnetic Family Christmas Tree allows children to piece together their family tree like a puzzle, using family photos, magnets, and a pre-made tree template.

For this activity, you will need:
Small individual photos of family members
Magnetic surface
Color printer OR yellow, green and brown construction paper
Magnetic tape
Magnetic buttons
Glue
Laminator (optional)

First, you must create the tree shapes (four green rectangles, brown rectangle and star). I have created templates you can simply print and cut out. If you prefer, you can also use yellow, green and brown construction paper to cut out similar shapes on your own. (Click on either image below to download the two-page template file.)

Magnetic Family Christmas Tree Craft from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Magnetic Family Christmas Tree Craft from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

After cutting out these shapes, I laminated each one for extra durability, but this is certainly not necessary. I placed magnetic tape on the back of each shape. Magnetic tape can be found at most craft or big box stores and, for this project, I recommend using the thinnest kind, which comes in a tape roll like this:

Roll of Magnetic Tape

Next, I printed out (and laminated) small headshot photos of my child, her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. This time, I glued thicker and stronger magnetic buttons on the back of each photo. *Magnets can be very harmful if swallowed, so please supervise children who may still put things into their mouths.*

Family Photo with Magnetic Button on Back

And that's it! Now, just locate a metal surface on which the child can arrange the pieces. You can use a refrigerator door, or, my personal favorite for magnet play - a large cookie sheet! The first time I showed my six-year-old daughter, I mixed up all the pieces (see photo) and asked her to help me put them in the right places. She is still a beginning reader, so I had to tell her what the words on the rectangles were, but once she knew that, she did great on her own until we got to the great-grandparent level. (Click on photos for larger view.)

Magnetic Family Christmas Tree Craft from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Magnetic Tree Jumble

Magnetic Family Christmas Tree Craft from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Completed Magnetic Tree

I helped her with the great-grandparent section and we talked about which great-grandparents were the parents of each grandparent. And soon, we had a finished tree!

This would be a great activity to do when visiting with extended family over the holidays, or it would even make a great handmade gift for the children in your family.

©2016 Emily Kowalski Shroeder

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How Genealogy Helps Children Cope With Death

10/28/2016

How Genealogy Helps Children Cope With Death - GrowingLittleLeaves.com

Last week, my husband and his extended family experienced the passing of the family's matriarch, my children's great-grandmother. It was not their first experience with the loss of a loved one, but they still asked many of the normal questions about why people die, what death means, and what happens to our bodies vs. our spirits - normal things you would expect a child to ask.

However, I have been impressed at my kids' maturity in talking openly about death and to seemingly accept it as a part of life, even more than some adults seem to. Could this be because we talk about death (more than the average family) when I teach them about our ancestors and our family's history? Could it be because we take regular visits to cemeteries, and talk about how death is simply a part of life?

Although sorrow will always be a part of coping with the deaths of loved ones, children are not born with an inherent fear of death - it is something they learn from the people around them. Openly and regularly talking about the cycle of life and death makes the subject less taboo and less intimidating to children.

I love creating and using timelines with my children to teach family history, because they help them visualize the complete span of a person's life and the life events included within that span. Death is one of those events - an event that none of us completely understand from a spiritual perspective. But seeing death as a life event common to every person who has come before us is a powerful thing to be able to visualize, especially for a child. Understanding the universality of death and mourning doesn't necessarily make us less sad or angry when someone we love dies, but I do think it gives us a greater sense of acceptance and closure, especially if we believe in some version of a spiritual afterlife.

How Genealogy Helps Children Cope With Death - GrowingLittleLeaves.com

And as genealogists, we deal heavily in memories, especially memories of loved ones who are no longer with us in the flesh. I'm always sharing memories of my grandparents with my children, and I've now encouraged them to discuss memories of their deceased great-grandparents, as a way to keep them "alive" within us.

Our family does not share Mexican ancestry, but one of my favorite holidays that has elements which I think every family should embrace is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Drawing on both indigenous and Catholic traditions, Dia de lost Meurtos festivities remember, celebrate, and welcome back the spirits of dead loved ones. Family members build altars (ofrendas) to honor their ancestors and visit cemeteries to clean and decorate grave sites. Though individual traditions can vary from place to place, most Día de los Muertos festivities generally take on a happy, celebratory tone, instead of a mournful one.

I am curious as to what other people think. Do you think that regularly discussing our ancestors with our children can help them process the mystery of death any better than children who don't know anything about their family history?

As always, thanks for reading! If you are interested in learning more about Día de los Muertos, check out these links below!

Kid-Friendly Resources About Día de los Muertos:
Teacher Page - MexicanSugarSkull.com
Day of the Dead - Smithsonian Latino Center
Día de los Muertos - National Geographic Society
Day of the Dead - National Geographic Kids
Day of the Dead History, Activities, and Resources - ArtIsFun.com

©2016 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

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31 EASY Ways to Engage Children in Family History

9/27/2016

The month of October is Family History Month here in the United States, so I've complied a list of 31 easy ways in which we can engage children in family history. Most of these activities are fun, interactive, and don't take too much time, so hopefully the children in your life will really enjoy doing them with you and learn a little about their family at the same time.

31 Easy Ways to Engage Children in Family History from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

1.) Share an ancestor's school yearbook or diploma.
2.) Share an ancestor's sports photo, uniform, or award.
3.) Share an ancestor's wedding photo.
4.) Watch a movie or TV show an ancestor enjoyed.
5.) Share a photo of an ancestor as a child.
6.) Have the child interview an elder family member.
7.) Have the child photograph or videotape an elder family member.
8.) Read a newspaper article about an ancestor.
9.) Share an heirloom an ancestor made or crafted.
10.) Watch old family home movies.
11.) Play a popular game from an ancestor's youth.
12.) Sing a popular song from an ancestor's youth.
13.) Learn a popular dance from an ancestor's youth.
14.) Share a map of an ancestor's town, state, or nation.
15.) Tell the child a story or memory about one of your grandparents.
16.) Read a popular children's book from an ancestor's youth.
17.) Try a hobby an ancestor enjoyed.
18.) Learn about popular clothing styles from an ancestor's youth.
19.) Draw a sketch of an old family photo.
20.) Learn about an ancestor's job.
21.) Share a photo of an ancestor's home or workplace.
22.) Visit a family cemetery or share photos of ancestor gravestones.
23.) Learn about popular hairstyles from an ancestor's youth.
24.) Learn about transportation and travel during an ancestor's youth.
25.) Cook or bake (and eat!) an ancestor's recipe.
26.) Learn about an ancestor's home country, language, and culture.
27.) Look at differences in invention/technology between an ancestor's date of birth and date of death.
28.) Look at famous paintings or sculptures made during an ancestor's childhood.
29.) Eat a meal with family heirloom dinnerware and/or silverware.
30.) Play dress-up with an ancestor's old clothing, jewelry, hats, or other accessories.
31.) Make a hands-on, interactive family tree or pedigree chart. (Click here for ideas.)

Some of these ideas focus not only on learning about an ancestor as an individual, but also about learning about what life was like when that person was alive, an aspect that even we adults sometimes ignore in our genealogy research. Of course, this list is just the beginning! I'm sure you can think of many more fun and easy ways in which to get young people interested in their family history during Family History Month. Share a comment and tell me about them!

©2016 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

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50 Books For Grandparents Day

9/6/2016

The primary mission of Growing Little Leaves is to help young people learn about their family histories, and a big part of accomplishing that goal is helping families foster open relationships and communication between children and their grandparents and, if they are fortunate enough to know them, their great-grandparents, as well.

This year, Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 11. Below, I've compiled a list of children's storybooks that explore and embrace the grandparent-grandchild relationship. I've also included books in which grandparents serve as children's primary caregivers and books that deal with the tough issues of grandparent illness, dementia, and death. I've linked each book title to its WorldCat or Amazon.com entry, so that you can find a copy at a local library in your area.

50 Books for Grandparents Day from GrowingLittleLeaves.com

General Books About Grandparents

The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's by Stan & Jan Berenstain

I Loved You Before You Were Born by Anne Bowen

Grandmother and I by Helen E. Buckley

Because Your Grandparents Love You by Andrew Clements

Everything is Different at Nonna's House by Caron Lee Cohen

The Adventures of Camp Nana Papa by Donnie Cranfill

Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa by Anna Dewdney

Abuela by Arthur Dorros

Grandma Hands by Keri Brubaker Ems

Grandfather's Wrinkles by Kathryn England

The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy

We're Very Good Friends, My Grandpa and I by P. K. Hallinan

Grandpa Has a Great Big Face by Warren Hanson

Nana's Birthday Party by Amy Hest

Grandmother's Book of Promises by Karen Hill

Grandpa and Me & Grandma and Me by Karen Katz

My Hippie Grandmother by Reeve Lindbergh

Here Comes Grandma! by Janet Lord

Just Grandma and Me & Just Grandpa and Me by Mercer Mayer

Grandmother's Dreamcatcher by Becky Ray McCain

Grandparent Poems compiled by John Micklos Jr.

Gus and Grandpa (Series) by Claudia Mills

Grandpa Loved & Grandma's Scrapbook by Josephine Nobisso

What Grandmas Do Best & What Grandpas Do Best by Laura Numeroff

Making Memories by Janette Oke

The Grandma Book & The Grandpa Book by Todd Parr

My Oh So Fancy Nana by Maggie Pearson

How to Babysit a Grandma & How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan

Henry and Mudge and the Great-Grandpas by Cynthia Rylant

My Nana and Me by Irene Smalls

Grandma's Bill by Martin Waddell

Grandpa Lets Me Be Me by Debra Mostow Zakarin

Grandma, It's For You! by Harriet Ziefert

Grandpas are for Finding Worms & Grandmas are for Giving Tickles by Harriet Ziefert

Books With Grandparents as Primary Caregivers

Sometimes It's Grandmas and Grandpas: Not Mommies and Daddies by Gayle Byrne

Robert Lives With His Grandparents by Martha Whitmore Hickman

Grandma's Hands by Dolores Johnson

Let's Talk About Living With A Grandparent by Susan Kent

Books Dealing With Grandparent Sickness, Dementia, and Death

My Grandpa Had a Stroke by Dori Hillestad Butler

Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola

Zero Grandparents by Michelle Edwards

When My Grammy Forgets, I Remember: A Child's Perspective on Dementia by Toby Haberkorn

Weeds in Nana's Garden by Kathryn Harrison

Really and Truly by Emilie Rivard

When Your Grandparent Dies: A Child's Guide to Good Grief by Victoria Ryan

Always My Grandpa: A Story For Children About Alzheimer's Disease by Linda Scacco

Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants: A Story About Alzheimer's Disease for Young Children by Barbara Schnurbush

What's Happening to Grandpa? by Maria Shriver

Still My Grandma by Veronique Van den Abeele

"I Remember!" Cried Grandma Pinky by Jan Wahl

Grandparents Day is a wonderful opportunity for kids and parents to show their appreciation to the grandparents and grandparent-like figures in their lives, people who are often the matriarchs and patriarchs of families and who still do so much to help bring up the youngest generation.

Be sure to follow Growing Little Leaves's 'Grandparents Day' Pinterest Board for other online Grandparents Day resources, printables, and craft ideas.

©2016 Emily Kowalski Schroeder

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