Collecting Family Stories: Ten Questions for Children to Ask a Grandparent This Thanksgiving

An Opportunity Amidst the Holiday Chaos

As we move past Halloween and deeper into fall, one of the year’s great family rituals looms on the horizon: Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you’re embarking on a trip to another state or hosting the festivities at home, these chaotic yet joyful occasions are important in young children’s lives. Along with the small army of hungry relatives, the clatter of plates, and the smell of turkey and stuffing, meeting and learning from relatives offers a great opportunity for personal growth. Yes, beneath this delicious culinary cacophony, important things are afoot for children. It’s a chance to create new, meaningful memories, deepen their sense of family, and even learn from their elders. And there is no better resource for all of these things than their grandparents.

Like the rest of us, grandparents come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. Some may move a little slower, be a little hard of hearing, and speak in a way that is more deliberate. Others may be spry, surprisingly youthful, and full of zany witticisms. Some might not even be related to you — many of us have elders in our family circles who fill the role of grandparents in many ways. Regardless, they all share something: a lifetime of stories, unique insights, and helpful advice. In short, they are walking story libraries, and it’s a rare grandparent who doesn’t want to share their stories with their grandchildren; for their part, kids love finding out a little bit more about where they came from, what the world used to be like, and what their grandparents were like when they were children.

Why These Stories Matter

Children love stories. Whether it’s a bedtime story read aloud, an audio story on a road trip, or a grandparent sharing memories from sixty years ago, few things nourish a growing mind like a compelling narrative and a chance to collect new information. Stories from their grandparents give children a sense of belonging and a part in something bigger than themselves. So, after dessert is served and the dishes are cleared, you can find a quiet moment for your child to get to know their grandma and/or grandpa a little better. Here are a few questions to get them started.

The Ten Questions (A Mixture of Serious and Silly)

To make sure your children’s grandparents don’t feel like they’re being interrogated or given a history quiz, make sure the questions are more like a fun invitation to play, remember, and wonder together. 

• 1. “What kinds of games did you play when you were my age?” (With no screens, no batteries, what did fun look like?)
• 2. “What’s the worst trouble you ever got into?” (Kids love knowing that even the grown-ups that they look up to weren’t always perfectly behaved when they were growing up.)
• 3. “What did your house sound like at night when you were little?” (This presents a sensory portal right back to the grandparents’ childhood bedroom.)
• 4. “What was your favorite food growing up? What foods did you secretly feed the dog under the table?” (Favorite and least favorite foods are highly relatable to kids, especially picky eaters.)
• 5. “How did your family celebrate the holidays when you were a kid?” (The answer may give your child a sense of family tradition and belonging to generations of family members, not just their nuclear family.)
• 6. “What was your favorite activity on a rainy day?” (A gentle look at how creativity and cozy indoor moments were made before instant entertainment.)
• 7. “Who was your best friend when you were my age, and what kinds of activities do you do together?” (Friendship dynamics are instantly relatable across generations, and their grandparent’s experiences may be remarkably similar to your child’s own social life.)
• 8. “What’s a skill you learned that took a long time to become good at?” (It shows children that perseverance isn’t new and that, like them, even their elders had to practice and fail before succeeding.)
• 9. “If you choose one day in your childhood to time travel back to, what day would it be and why?” (Unlocks a snapshot of pure joy, nostalgia, or simple magic from a completely different era.)
• 10. “What is one story about our family that you want me to always remember?” (Gives grandparents a meaningful moment to pass down a piece of living heritage to the next generation.)
  

Download our FREE 10 Questions for Grandparents Printable Here!

Tips for Bringing Their Questions to Life

• Let Your Child Lead: Give them the list of questions that they’d like to ask their grandparent or grandparents and let them pick whichever questions spark their interest. Also, let them ask any questions they think of in the moment.
• Encourage Patience: Sometimes older memories take a moment to percolate. Teach your kids that a quiet pause just means that a story is on the way.
• Capture the Moment: It’s important to preserve stories and memories from your grandparents, so ask them if it’s okay to record them. If they agree, then tap “record” on your phone and set it on the table. An audio recording captures cadence, laughter, and sighs without making anyone feel self-conscious on camera.
• For Grandparents Who Can’t Attend: In some cases, grandparents may not be able to attend. Not to worry, children can ask their grandparents questions over the phone, on FaceTime, or in letter form, and it will work just as well.

The Greatest Gift We Can Give

At Thanksgiving, amid the turkey, the pie, and a bustling house, perhaps the greatest gift our children can offer their grandparents is simply their full, curious attention. When a child looks up at their grandparent and says, “Tell me more,” it honors a lifetime of stories, memories, and living, and reminds us all that we are part of an ongoing, beautiful story. 

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Sparkle Stories!

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Looking for some stories about families and older adults sharing their wisdom? Want a story that sets the perfect mood for Thanksgiving? Check-out some of these favorites!

• Martin & Sylvia: Family Tree of Stories – A sweet tale about discovering that every family member carries a branch full of memories.
• The Junkyard Feast: A Story of Thanksgiving — When the Junkyard animals realize Sergeant the watchdog always misses their annual gratitude feast to spend Thanksgiving with the Warden, Ben the clever cat insists on creating a special celebration just for him.
• Craft Your Own Memory Book – A simple tutorial on how kids can bind a tiny handmade booklet using folded paper and yarn to write or draw their grandparent’s answers.

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