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imported post -
19-12-04, 01:49 AM
[align=left] Family History Crafts for Kids
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(MSN/Ancestory.com) Kids are as eager as adults to learn about their ancestry. So why not incite their enthusiasm by introducing them early to the fun of family history? Below are a few simple crafts that will ease your children into the hobby.
• Family Trees: If you've decided to display your genealogy, ask your children to help you construct a homemade family tree. Your children can participate by writing their names and pasting their photos onto the tree. (Make sure not to use original photographs of your ancestors.)
• Autograph Books: Encourage your children to keep ancestor autograph books. At family get-togethers, they can ask relatives to write personal messages.
• Paper Dolls: Make historic paper dolls. Photocopy your ancestors' faces from old photographs and then glue them to the dolls.
• Handmade Dolls: Help your children make old-fashioned rag dolls or cornhusk dolls. You can extend this project for several months by teaching your children to sew period clothing. These heirloom toys will help them appreciate what childhood was like in the "old days."
• Dollhouses: Build a dollhouse that is a close replica of your grandparents' ancestral home. Your children can help you paint the house and select the right furniture. As you build the house, share memories of your ancestors and the places they once lived.
• Recipes: For your next family get-together, ask your children to help you prepare a historic supper. Use old family recipes that have been passed down through generations. You can also hand out copies of the recipes to your dinner guests.
• Ancestor Bookmarks: Scan photos of your ancestors then transfer them to simple word documents. Include a few interesting biographical facts beneath each photo. Your children can then color and decorate the bookmarks before you have them laminated.
• Homemade Newspapers: Assign each of your children an "article" about one of their ancestors. Each article can incorporate anecdotes about that particular relative. When complete, compile the articles (complete with hand-drawn illustrations) into your family's own newspaper.
• Heritage Maps: Buy a large map of the world. Using tacks or pushpins, have your children mark each place where a family member once lived.
• Grave Rubbings: Take your children to a cemetery where several of their ancestors are buried. Your children will enjoy looking for tombstones with familiar family names. Bring crayons along for gravestone rubbings. Just remember to keep a close eye on your children - loose tombstones can be dangerous.
• Treasure Albums: Instead of starting scrapbooks long after your children have grown, encourage your kids to keep treasure albums while they're still fairly young. Allow them to be as creative as they like, compiling everything from school papers and drawings, to photos, newspaper clippings and handwritten journal entries.
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