Too often we forget the priceless family history our parents and grandparents pass on through their stories. As a Family History Video producer, my job is to capture a family’s stories and history so knowing what questions to ask is key. Below are a few of my favorite Family History Questions you can ask your parents or grandparents to learn more about their life story and your family history.
While ancestry.com is a great resource, a parent or grandparent’s memories are often better!
Family History Questions
- What do you remember about your parents?
Ask your parent or grandparent to share memories of their parents. What they looked like, to describe their personality, what their interests were, the best advice they ever gave and so on. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as a little probing can often reveal a treasure trove of priceless information. - What do you remember about your grandparents?
In the past, it was common for multiple generations of a family to live together so your parents or grandparents may know more than you think about your ancestors. Learn about your great-grandparents or even great, great-grandparents by asking your grandparents to share their memories. - How did you spend your free time?
What did children do before television, computers, cell phones and scheduled activities? Discover how your parent or grandparent spent their free time and you may find yourself longing for a time before modern technology. - What was your greatest challenge?
Everyone faces hardship at one or more times in their lives. Learning what challenges your parent or grandparent faced and overcame will give you a better understanding of who they are as well as lessons to reflect on when facing your own hardships. - How did you meet your spouse?
For a truly special moment, ask your parents or grandparents to share the story of how they met. What was their first impression of each other and when they knew the other was “the one”. Ask about their wedding day and if they went on a honeymoon. Get ready to smile!
For even more family history questions, visit my post: ’25 Legacy Questions’!
For tips on interviewing a parent or grandparent, check out:: ‘Interviewing a Grandparent’.
Let Family Tree Video Help You
Preserve Your Stories
Family stories connect generations and keep a family’s history alive and meaningful. Preserving them ensures younger generations know their history and the people who came before them.
Family Tree Video preserve family stories in captivating Legacy Videos. These include Family History Videos, Video Biographies, Heirloom Videos and more.
To learn about preserving your own stories, contact us or visit FamilyTreeVideo.com!
About Susan Saunders
Susan is a Legacy Video producer and owner of Family Tree Video, preserving family stories and history for younger generations to know since 2008.