Unlock The Benefits Of Family Stories For Your Teen This Holiday

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Too often the holidays leave us far more distanced from our families than we wish – a stark contrast to the idyllic family gatherings many of us imagine. Last minute shopping, final decorating, and preparation for big meals get in the way of quality family time, while time spent with friends and on social media distract our teens.

But just because the traditional homeschool routine may be on pause doesn’t mean the learning has to stop.

Family gatherings during the holidays can be a great opportunity to help teens dig deeper into the stories that comprise your family narrative. After all, research shows that young adults who understand more about their background are actually better off in the long run, including higher levels of self-esteem, social competence, autonomy, and purpose. 

Plus, kids can learn more about important moments in history – beyond just what they can find in a textbook – discover what it really felt like to live during different moments in time, and gain a better understanding of where they fit within your family’s story. 

Family Holiday Activities that Honor Your History

Here are a few things you can do this holiday season to help your teen learn about your family’s history:

Bring intention to family dinner conversations.

Instead of musing over the taste of the turkey, take advantage of the time together and set an intention for dinner conversation. This intention could be as simple as sharing actions that inspired us in the last year. 

Alternatively, invite your child to take ownership over the conversation by asking them to come up with a few prompts the family can answer. Questions that go beyond the surface and open the door to storytelling are great – a few examples include “what are you most grateful for this year?” or “what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in 2022”?

These group conversations can set the stage for more in-depth connections throughout the holiday weekend. What’s more, this type of intention can cultivate the type of common ground necessary for people to connect meaningfully, according to Priya Parker, a conflict resolution facilitator and author.

Learn the stories of an aging relative.

Once your teen has opened the door to discussions around the dinner table, you may want to prompt them into a more formal 1:1 conversation with a parent or grandparent. Indeed, the best way to discover more about your family history is through a direct source, and the holidays present a perfect time for your teen to sit down with an older family member and have an in-person conversation about important moments in their life. 

These conversations can reveal significant parts of a family member’s journey – like hearing about grandfather’s experience as an immigrant or his time serving in the military.

And yet, it’s often the simplest questions that lead to the most revealing answers. For example, questions like “what did you do for fun growing up?” and “what was school like when you were my age?” can be particularly powerful.

Either way, your child will gain valuable insight into what it was like to live in a different time, all while practicing vital skills like interviewing and conversation.

If you’re looking for a place to get started, the Remento Blog has a great list of 20 favorite questions to ask a parent or grandparent. And, if helpful, the Remento app can be used to guide and record these conversations, designed to make this a lasting memento your child can save for later or share with others.

Document the Stories Behind Family Photos & Heirlooms.

Explore the stories behind scrapbook photos and precious family heirlooms to inspire a different type of sharing.

Ask your child to find items around the home that are important to your family – whether it’s memaw’s priceless tea kettle or a funny photo passed down from their great grandad.

You and your teen can then start piecing together the story of the object. Ask family members to reveal who the object was passed down from, what it was used for, and where it originated. If it’s a manufactured item, research its history online, like roughly when it was created.

Making Meaningful Connections

Over the past several years, the pandemic has disrupted learning, while at the same time forcing many of us to become increasingly disconnected from family members. This year represents a chance for your child to not only dust off old connections with loved ones, but dig deeper into their family history and gain perspective on the past – all while making, and preserving, precious memories in the process.

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