History, the kind I learned in school, wasn't usually my favorite subject. Memorizing dates, names and places tended to be dry and tedious exercises, unless there was an interesting story attached.
Family histories are different. Their relevance is easier to understand with connections to people we actually know or have at least heard about from those people who are closest to us.
For some, though, even these connections are not enough. History is history.
One entertaining way to involve everybody in family history is through playing table games. Two of the more popular games available today are FamilyLore and LifeStories.
FamilyLore uses story cards covering 20 categories, from ancestors to pets. Half of the questions posed on the story cards are generic, with the other half blank, to be filled out with questions from the participating families. Eventually, many families ditch the generic cards and use just the family cards.
LifeStories touts its storytelling game as "a way to warm up a family gathering, rekindle a friendship or renew histories."
If you have some reluctant storytellers in your family, these board games may be a way to make them active participants in your own family's history.
Terrific Larry! Love your blogs so far. Put you in my feeder and will keep a watch to learn more. This game is a great idea for a gift for people like my parents who are IMPOSSIBLE to find stuff for anymore. Also, a great idea for a game to pull out with family and friends. I wish the site they offered a few examples of the types of topics or questions in the lifestories game though. Good luck. I'm sure you'll get a slew of visitors and I'll be one!
Posted by: Sherry Borzo | March 10, 2007 at 07:19 AM