About 2 months ago I had the opportunity to review Zap The Grandma Gap, by Janet Hovorka. Here is the opening paragraph from that review:
Zap the Grandma Gap: Connecting with Your Family by Connecting Them to Their Family History takes an old idea and breathes new life into sharing family history. I don’t know many genealogists who haven’t complained about how difficult it is to get the next generation interested and involved in their family history. Some offer up stories of selective success, while others offer creative ideas that always seem to go untested. Janet Hovorka has a better idea. In this new and lively book, Janet offers some of the most creative and inspiring ideas for getting children and grandchildren actively involved in their family history. However, the ideas in this book go beyond a few simple strategies by suggesting more than a few ways to make family history an integral part of the family members’ daily lives.
Now Hovorka is back with a workbook to accompany her book. Where the book provides ideas and creative solutions to involving younger family members in family history, this workbook provides “step by step instructions, procedures, templates and resources that will help you teach the next generation to love their heritage.” Zap the Grandma Gap: Power Up Workbook is a akin to a lesson manual. Chapter by chapter parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or even older siblings, can help younger relatives learn about their family’s background.
This workbook is so much more than the traditional guide to pedigrees and worksheets. This book offers FUN! The first section gets everyone thinking, “brainstorming,” about their family. Then there are the projects. This is where family history becomes exciting. Help to create visual displays, take an heirloom inventory, or work with social networks—this is where the kids may teach the adults a thing or two. The book will even help you work on organization skills, not by telling someone what to do, but by seeking their input. Learn to let youth find their own way, where the adult helps to nurture a sense of accomplishment.
When it comes to making family history fun for the youth, Janet Hovorka is as creative as I have found. Her ideas strike at the heart of encouragement through participation. What better way to spend an hour with a youth than helping them learn about their family. Unless, you would rather sit in front of the TV and not talk?
Table of Contents
Introduction
Brainstorm
- Your Family
- Relative Resources
- Your History
- Ancestral Assets
- Your Current Family
- Reflection Questions
- Lessons to Learn
- Pick a Few Heroes
Projects
- Pictures
- Visual Displays
- Scrapbooks
- Books
- Organization
- Heirloom Inventory
- Flowers and Gardens
- Family History Travel
- Antique Games
- Social Networking
Templates
- Calendar
- Indexing Chart
- Pedigree Charts
- Paper Doll Family
- Recipe Cards
- Family History Baking
- Family History Parties
- Family History bingo
- Games to Adapt
- Scavenger Hunt
- Family Playing Cards
- Activity Books
- Family Ornaments
- Resources
- Family History Gifts
- Interview Questions
- Internet Sites for Kids
- Books
- Incentives
- Starting Places
Energize and Mobilize
- The Plan
Get copies of Zap the Grandma Gap: Power Up Workbook for yourself and for each of those budding genealogists in the family from Family Roots Publishing; Price: $23.47.