🌳 Creating a Family Tree with Children

A joyful holiday activity that brings generations together
By The Nanna Blog

The holidays are a time for gathering, storytelling, and slowing down just enough to truly connect. One of the most meaningful (and surprisingly fun!) activities families can do together is creating a family tree with children.

This simple project opens the door to beautiful conversations, shared laughter, and moments where grandchildren begin to understand where they come from — and who helped shape their world.

🎄 Why the Holidays Are the Perfect Time

When grandparents, parents, and children are together, there’s a natural opportunity for curiosity to bloom. Kids are already surrounded by relatives, traditions, and shared memories — making it the ideal moment to turn those connections into something tangible.

• ✨ Grandparents are present to share stories
• ✨ Children have time and attention to ask questions
• ✨ The activity feels meaningful, not rushed

👵👴 Why Family Trees Matter for Children

Creating a family tree helps children:

• 💛Feel a sense of belonging and identity
• 🧠Develop curiosity about history and culture
• 🗣️Practice asking thoughtful questions
• 📚Learn storytelling and listening skills

For grandparents especially, this is a wonderful chance to pass down family stories that may otherwise be lost with time.

🎨 Making It a Fun, Hands-On Activity

🖍️ Simple Materials to Get Started

• Poster board or large paper
• Markers, crayons, stickers
• Printed photos (if available)
• Glue or tape
• Optional: leaves cut from paper, stamps, washi tape

🌿 Creative Ways to Design the Tree

• Draw a large tree with branches for each generation
• Use handprints as “leaves” for family members
• Create a circular “family wreath” for holiday flair
• Make individual cards for each relative and connect them

❓ Questions Kids Love to Ask

This activity naturally invites curiosity. Encourage children to ask:

• “What games did you play when you were little?”
• “Where did our family come from?”
• “Who was named after who?”
• “What holidays did you celebrate growing up?”

📸 Turning the Family Tree into a Keepsake

Once finished, your family tree can become:

• 🖼️ A framed piece of wall art
• 📘 The first page of a family memory scrapbook
• 📦 A keepsake stored with holiday decorations
• 📷 A photo to include in yearly memory books or calendars

💞 More Than a Craft — A Connection

What children remember most isn’t the perfect tree — it’s the time spent sitting close, listening, laughing, and learning about the people who love them.

Creating a family tree is a gentle reminder that every child belongs to a bigger story — one filled with love, resilience, and generations of care.

With warmth and gratitude,
The Nanna Blog

Helping families create memories that last a lifetime.