Family Day: The Importance of Knowing the Extended Family - Plus a Gift File for Creating a Family Album

Recently, I noticed something interesting – as part of Family Day at my after-school program, we talked about family connections. I asked the children about their parents and siblings, and then we moved on to the extended family. I asked how many uncles and aunts they had, how many cousins, where they lived, and what they did for a living. Most of the children didn’t know the statuses of their uncles, aunts, grandparents, and sometimes even got confused about the definitions – who is an uncle and who is a cousin. They couldn’t explain their relationships with them and didn’t always remember everyone’s names.

This was a thought-provoking moment because I realized how important it is to teach children about broader family connections. Getting to know the extended family not only strengthens intergenerational bonds but also helps children understand who they are, where they come from, and their place within the family structure.

One practical and fun way to do this is by creating an extended family tree. Sit down with the children, draw a family tree, and add all the family members – grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and even more distant relatives. While doing this, explain the family status of each person: who is whose parent, how everyone is connected, and even interesting details like where each person lives and what they do.

**For example:**

“This is Uncle Yossi. He’s Dad’s brother, and he lives in Tel Aviv and works as an engineer.”

“This is Grandma Rachel. She’s Mom’s mother, and she lives in Haifa. She loves baking cakes.”

To help you, the parents, explain family concepts in a simple and clear way, here’s a list of common terms and how to explain them to children:

1. **Grandparents** – “They are the parents of your mom or dad. They raised your mom/dad when they were kids, and now they are your grandparents.”

2. **Uncle and Aunt** – “They are the brothers or sisters of your mom or dad. They can be older or younger than them.”

3. **Cousins** – “They are the children of your uncles and aunts. They are part of your family, like siblings, but they don’t live with you.”

4. **Grandchild** – “You are the grandchild of your grandparents. That means you are the child of their children.”

5. **Nieces and Nephews** – “If you have brothers or sisters, their children will be your nieces and nephews.”

6. **Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law** – “A brother-in-law is your sister’s husband or your spouse’s brother. A sister-in-law is your brother’s wife or your spouse’s sister.”

7. **Extended Family** – “This is all the family that doesn’t live with us at home – like uncles, cousins, grandparents.”

Building a family tree is also a great opportunity to share family stories, memories, and even old photos. It can become an exciting family project that connects generations and passes on family values and heritage to the children.

**Creating a Family Album**

In addition to building a family tree, you can create a family album with the children – a project that will connect the entire family and become a valuable keepsake for future generations.

**How to Start?**

1. **Collect Family Photos**

Look for old and new photos of family members – grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and even distant relatives.

If you have digital photos, you can print them or keep them in a digital album.

2. **Write Details About Each Family Member**

Next to each photo, write the full name of the family member, their relationship to you, where they live, what they do, and even a short story or special memory about them.

For example:

“This is Grandma Rachel, Mom’s mother. She lives in Haifa and loves baking cakes. When we were little, she always made us a special chocolate cake.”

3. **Divide the Album into Sections**

Organize the album into sections, such as:

“Grandparents”

“Uncles and Aunts”

“Cousins”

“Distant Relatives”

You can also add a special section for family stories or important events (weddings, holidays, family trips).

4. **Design the Album**

If you’re creating a physical album, let the children decorate it with stickers, drawings, or colorful captions.

If you prefer a digital album, use tools like Canva or Google Photos to design it beautifully and neatly.

5. **Share with the Family**

Once finished, you can show the album to the entire family – perhaps at a family gathering or even in a family WhatsApp group.

This can be a great opportunity to hear more stories and add more details to the album.

**Why Is This Important?**

A family album not only strengthens children’s sense of belonging but also preserves family history in a tangible and emotional way. It’s a wonderful way to teach children about their roots, family values, and the connections that bind us all together.

So, this Family Day, I invite you to take a moment, sit with the children, and dive together into your family’s story. Because, in the end, family is not just who we see every day but also everyone who has been part of our story.

I’ve prepared a special file to help you get started with this task – creating a family album. You can download it here.

Happy Family Day! 💖