Kids and Family History: Why The Connection Matters

In our household, photos are a part of our daily lives, and as a parent I’ve always felt like it’s important to share what I know about my heritage with my daughter. I think that if you asked her, she’d probably say that I talk about it too much! Lol But I know that is not the case in all families, and for lots of different reasons. Sometimes things are too painful. Sometimes you just don’t know. Sometimes the skeletons are a little too uncomfortable to talk about. But research shows that kids who grow up with a sense of their family history have better self esteem and “show higher levels of emotional well-being.” I think that’s major. So this holiday season, share some of your family history with your kids and see what happens. To give you some motivation, I’ve asked my daughter to tell all of you why she feels it’s important to keep and share family history with your loved ones, and why she likes it when we have those chats. 

Take it away, Pumpkin! ♥

Why I Like Hearing Stories about My Family

I want to tell you about why I like hearing stories about my family. Mommy asked me to write about this because other kids should also know about their family history. So I am doing it now. Here are my reasons that are very good reasons:

1. I Know Who I Am

I think it is important that we know about our past because then you will know who you are and what you came from. I know who I am because Mommy told me, and I think that is very important to know in life, especially when you are a kid because sometimes you are not always so confident. Sometimes there are people in school who are not nice but if you remember that you are nice then you don’t have that problem. I think my family history is exciting because I get to learn what my ancestors’ accomplishments were, and what their life was like with pros and cons of what happened through life for them and how it was different than our life in modern times. I think it is exciting to sit down and learn about all the great people in our family’s past.

2: Fun Photos Help You Remember

I like photos because when you look at them it reminds you of your past and if you look at a photo of someone you love, for example my family overseas, it’s like you are right there with them and it goes into your memory often so you never forget each other.

I like remembering the places I’ve been to because what’s the point of going somewhere if you’re not going to remember it? But even if you don’t remember, you will always have photos to help you remember. I just think it’s good to remember the places you have been to because when you are older you can look back at the things you have remembered and be satisfied with it instead of looking back at your memories and saying to yourself “I should have remembered it while I was there.” 

I like it when Mommy prints photos because I can take them and stick them to my wall. I can’t stick digital photos to my wall. And if you lose a photo you can print it again which you weren’t able to do a while back.

Photos make me feel wonderful most of the time if they are good memories. For example, I have pictures of my cats all over my room because they don’t live here. They live with my grandparents in Sweden. So whenever I’m there with them I remember to bring my phone downstairs so I can sit and take photos of them. I really enjoy along with having fun with them. Photos make me feel like my cats will always be there with me inside my memory.

I like looking at photos because it makes you remember what has happened no matter if it was good or bad, which I think is amazing. And especially when you really miss something, then it makes you feel better.

3. It Helps You Be Proud

I think other kids should know about their family history because first of all you will know what culture your family was from before you were in the country you are in now, or if your family was native to that country. Also what your family has faced in the past and what has changed for you that was different for them. It’s just so interesting to learn about it, and I think other kids would like it too.  

When Mommy and Daddy became Americans I was very proud because from that moment on I knew they would be just like me 🙂 and they would be able to vote for elections which they have always wanted to do. And I was also very proud that my mom had a dual citizenship exactly like me 🙂 but I was also very sad because my dad could no longer be an Indian citizen anymore. But I was very very proud and happy for them on that day.

I am proud of one of my ancestors who actually was a great emperor. He was the first person in his time to let his daughters go to school, so he was very wise and smart, and when he was not first in line to be emperor, he didn’t fight with his brother to get the throne. He just waited to see if he would ever get a chance and if not, oh well. And I think that is very great. He seems nice. He got a chance to be emperor when his older brother got sick and died. And so I am very proud that he was a good sport and very wise and chose decisions carefully. I wouldn’t have known all of this if Mommy didn’t tell me about it, and now I am proud. That’s why you have to tell your kids about these stories.

Why You Should Talk about Your Family History

When I am older I’m going to tell my kids about family history. For example, archery is a big hobby of mine and I have learned that my ancestors liked it too. So when I’m older I might get my kids into archery and so I might randomly say: did you know your ancestor so and so did archery? This is better instead of sitting down and giving them a boring lecture.

Other parents can get their kids interested in family history by maybe taking a DNA test which I think kids would like. It would show them what parts of the world they are from. I know I would like that. I already know mine. And after you know that you can find different types of food they would eat in those countries and try it. That is always interesting. And then at the end of the day you could sit down and read a book about your family’s history to your child.

People must know about their family history. It is very important. And everyone, especially those people on TV, would be a lot nicer if they knew how their families lived before them.

Editor’s Note: Special Thanks to my little one for her insight! I hope that her words inspire you to share your family history with your kids this holiday season! If you don’t know much about your family history, it’s never too late to start looking! Contact us for a little research help and let’s uncover what amazing stories you have in your tree!

Featured Photo Courtesy of Evgenyataman