How to Make a Family Timeline

Talk with your children about which events should go on a family timeline.

It is important to teach children about their history, both where they came from and what has happened in their own lives. A family timeline gives children a visual and graphic way to look at what their family has been through and the what has happened to their family. Creating a family timeline is an excellent rainy-day activity, and it helps children realize that they are very much a part of their family's history.

Things You'll Need

• Poster paper
• Masking tape
• Markers
• Family photographs (optional)

Instructions

1. Spread out a roll of poster paper on a wood or tile floor, or on a large work desk or table. Tape down the edges with masking tape so the paper does not roll up.

2. Draw a horizontal line from one end of the paper to the other using a marker.

3. Mark the far left of the line with the date and event that started the family, whether it was the birth of a child or a marriage.

4. Mark the far right of the line with the current date.

5. Ask your child what the important events in the family have been. Think about things such as children being born, moves, the acquisition of pets or changes in schools or jobs.

6. Place the incidents on the family timeline in the order in which they occurred, writing out the date and a brief description.

7. Illustrate the timeline with drawings in marker. If available, tape family photographs to the timeline to illustrate it as well.

8. Tape the timeline to the child's wall as a decoration when you are done.

References

• Family Tree Magazine: Create a Personal Timeline
• Read Write Think: Creating Family Timelines -- Graphing Family Memories and Significant Events