20 questions about family history
Questions to ask parents about parenting.
Family history books can often reach back for centuries and dozens of generations, filled with remarkable stories of ancestors in other countries and time periods. But that is not where it begins.
Your family history begins with those closest to you—your parents.
Questions to ask parents about their child
How much do you know about their childhoods and history, their friends and memories? Often, the best place to begin with your family history journey is with your parents. If you’re not sure what to ask, this list of 20 questions (plus sub-questions!) should get you started.
General Tips
Before we dive into the questions, here are a few general tips to follow during your interview with your parents:
- Ask both short-answer questions (e.g., “What year were you born?”) and long-answer questions (e.g., “What are some memories you have of your mother?”).
Hopefully though, even the short-answer questions can trigger memories, stories, and discussions.
- Don’t be afraid to ask the “obvious” questions. Even if you kn