The holiday season is upon us! A few weeks ago, I was at Michael's craft store and picked up this adorable little artificial evergreen tree (for under $8). I decided we would use it to create a family tree Christmas tree.
In addition to this small tabletop tree, I also picked up some chalkboard decorative tags, red ribbon, and chalk at the craft store. Recently, I've been trying to teach my kids the first names of their grandparents and great-grandparents. So, I thought it would be fun to write our family's first names on the tags and hang them on the tree. The kids' names would be at the top of the tree, then their parents, grandparents, and finally great-grandparents towards the bottom.
Because space on each tag was limited, I wrote out the names, but my daughter sat right next to me and we spelled out each name letter-for-letter. We started with her and her brother's names, then worked through my and my husband's names. Once we got to her grandparents, I started by asking the questions, "Who is my mommy?" "Who is Dad's mommy," etc. to reinforce that idea of just what a grandparent is.
In addition to this small tabletop tree, I also picked up some chalkboard decorative tags, red ribbon, and chalk at the craft store. Recently, I've been trying to teach my kids the first names of their grandparents and great-grandparents. So, I thought it would be fun to write our family's first names on the tags and hang them on the tree. The kids' names would be at the top of the tree, then their parents, grandparents, and finally great-grandparents towards the bottom.
Because space on each tag was limited, I wrote out the names, but my daughter sat right next to me and we spelled out each name letter-for-letter. We started with her and her brother's names, then worked through my and my husband's names. Once we got to her grandparents, I started by asking the questions, "Who is my mommy?" "Who is Dad's mommy," etc. to reinforce that idea of just what a grandparent is.
I thought the tree would look more colorful and festive if we somehow included the red ribbon I had bought. We got out our scissors and yardstick, and I had my daughter measure off nine-inch sections of ribbon, which I then cut for her. I tied simple little bows around branches, and these bows represented the siblings of her parents and grandparents. (If we had included all of the siblings of her great-grandparents, I would have had to tie 70+ bows, which would have been too many for that little tree.) We named each person as I tied them on, with the proper title of aunt/uncle or grand-aunt/grand-uncle.
Measuring ribbon
Here is our finished tree! I've clustered the name tags towards one side of the tree so I could photograph most of them, but I've spread them out around the tree while it is on display here in our home. I love that the kids have yet another physical representation of their family tree in our home. Remember, repetition is KEY when teaching young children about family relationships and ancestor names!
Our finished family Christmas tree!
Note: Black tags similar to the chalkboard ones I purchased can be made using yarn, a hole punch, and some black card stock or construction paper.
©2014, Emily Kowalski Schroeder.
©2014, Emily Kowalski Schroeder.
