Kid-craft expert Courtney Watkins provides some amazing ideas on how to teach children about their family tree and heritage.
Family Tree Drawing or Collage
Have children draw a blueprint and a draft of a family tree on paper or even use sticky notes to arrange and shift around family members on a bedroom mirror to help children visualize how everyone's related.
Family Reporter
With a mini-tape recorder, journal and pencil in hand, your child can become an investigative reporter who can conduct interviews with relatives. Have them ask questions such as what is his or her favorite color, favorite subject in school or what his or her first day of school was like. Accompany each written interview with a drawing or snapshot of the relative.
* Note: While getting to know each relative, children will recognize how things like fads and technology change, as well as how other things remain the same--such as peer pressure and sibling rivalry.
Family Tree Game
At the next family gathering, have the child play game-show host, asking relatives to write three interesting "secrets" about themselves. Place the notes in plastic eggs or in inflatable balloons and hang them, like ornaments, on a houseplant or tree. Have children pick an ornament at a time, reading the clues so that the rest of the family can guess and discuss the identity of each mystery family member.
Resources Courtney's Creative Adventures
by Courtney Watkins
Little, Brown & Co., 2002
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Guests Courtney Watkins
Creativity Expert
E-mail:
Courtney@CourtneyWatkins.com
Website:
www.courtneywatkins.com
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