Friends and Family Tree

Time

PDF Resource

4 3 2 1 Early-Mid Stages

Benefits

Participants

One to One

What you need

Large sheet of card
Tree Template Ideas- download resource
Coloured pens
Photos of Friends and Family

Intro

It’s thrilling to dig deep into the generations to discover our ancestors. But creating a full family tree requires a lot of time and research. However, since it’s so nice to reminisce about the people we love, why not create a simplified tree for our family and friends? It’s lovely to include friends too, as they’re often just as important.

You can do this activity in a group setting, but it works best if you can give someone 1-on-1 time and finish the tree over a few sessions
A great activity for a care home to help know more about their residents and family networks

Top tip

Don’t have much time? Make a smaller tree and only write names, then jazz it up with some colours

The Activity

Give the person a sheet of card with the tree printed on (or they can draw it onto a blank sheet)
Chat to the person about their family and friends and their relationship to them
Encourage them to write people’s names on the tree as they think of them – they can be anyone they know, alive or not
Stick photos next to the names
Encourage the person to share stories and reminisce as they add each person
Once complete, invite them to add some colour to the tree – maybe some leaves and fruit
Display the tree in the person’s room, so they can reminiscence privately (it might also invite other people to ask questions and spark conversations)

PDF Resource