Preserving and Passing On The Legacy Of The Past

Benjamin Franklin humorously highlighted the importance of older generations to children with a famous quip: “If you would have good success in life, choose with utmost care your grandparents.”

It’s safe to say that most grandparents were not homeschooled themselves. So there is undoubtedly a range of views your children’s grandparents may have on your decision to educate at home. But unless your living ancestors are pirates, highwaymen, or other assorted knaves and scallywags, it’s worthwhile to get them involved in your kids’ education.

Here are a few suggestions on involving Grandparents in your homeschooling efforts.

[tweetthis display_mode=”button_link”]Here are a few suggestions on getting Grandparents involved in your homeschooling efforts. [/tweetthis]

 

Living History

All “grands” lived through times that neither you nor your children saw firsthand. Many experienced wars or other significant events, or at least remember them. Indeed, grandparents who grew up in the 40s, 50s, or 60s, can recall a time that must seem like a fairy tale to those living today: my kids’ grandparents remember praying, reading the Bible, and even learning Christian catechisms…in public schools.

And the point here is that grandparents possess knowledge of times past that can provide what history textbooks cannot: firsthand, eyewitness testimony, spoken from the lips of those who were there.

That history includes, not just political or social events, but stories from their own lives: what it was like growing up fifty, sixty, or seventy years ago; what they remember of their own grandparents; how they met each other before getting married; funny stories from the past.

Preserving Your Legacy

How can you capture those memories, and weave them into your children’s lives? Plan a special interview with the grandparents to record the things that are most precious to them on video.

Write questions in advance for them to answer. A few suggestions:

• What books most influenced you?
• What was your favorite childhood movie?
• What was your favorite recipe?
• What hobbies did you have?
• What were the most significant events that happened in our country, or the world, during your childhood?
• What do you remember about your parents? Your grandparents?
• How did the two of you meet? Did you know right away that you would someday get married?

Activities

Make copies of the interview, and provide them to any other family members who may be interested. Later, follow up with your kids using these activities.

• Watch a documentary on a war or event the grandparents lived through.
• Pick one of their favorite books and read it as a family. Have the kids write short essays on the book, and send them to the grandparents for their comments.
• Find their favorite movie on Netflix, Amazon, Dove Channel, etc., and watch it together with them. Ask them to talk afterwards about their memories of first seeing that film all those years ago. I still remember my grandfather’s story of the first time he ever heard sound in a movie theater: a dog appeared on screen, and actually barked! Everyone in the theater jumped and screamed!
• Cook their favorite childhood recipe and take it to them.

Inviting your parents into your homeschooling is a way to make history come alive and uncover new perspectives and concepts.

Have a great story about including grandparents in homeschooling? We’d love to here it.

[tweetthis display_mode=”button_link”] Have a great story about including grandparents in homeschooling? We’d love to here it. [/tweetthis]

 

Article by: William Chad Newsom and Angela Newsom

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