In this day and age, families are constantly on the lookout for ways to spend quality time together. Television viewing doesn't always meet this requirement, although I have nothing against it. Some real quality time projects take real thinking. Family trips are great but not everyone can afford to take them all the time. But when you do, whether it is to the park or on a mountain hike, you can work together to preserve the memory.

My family keeps a family journal. After returning from family outings, the family gathers together and those who can write take a turn to jot down their day and what they thought of it. The younger children talk about their adventure and one of us writes it down for them. We list the pros and cons of each outing and makes notes on whether we would like to return again and what, if anything, we have learned.

The journal is made accessible to the whole family so that they can look through it at any time. Once pictures from our outings are developed, we place them in the journal also.

What will you need? 

It's always best to try to work on the journal the same day as your trip, if feasible. If not, make sure you do it as soon as you can. Little ones tend to forget their excitement or what they saw if too much time lapses before they get to tell you their thoughts.

Journal writing time isn't just limited to after taking trips, though. We work on our journal after fun days of school, interesting days of work, etc ... This helps the family also keep up to date with how each other's days went. Rather than just talking about our days, we are working together on a fun project and making memories to last.

Just as baby books are great for reading once children grow up, a family journal will always evoke fond memories of the times in the past as well as the time spent putting it all together. It will always be a cherished family heirloom.

Copyright 2001 by Angela Giles Klocke. All rights reserved. 

It's that time of year again, time to search for the perfect gift and the right holiday card to send to our family and acquaintances. Are you tired of sending the same old holiday message? Why not try something-new try writing an annual update to accompany the card. Well, letter writing isn't new, but with today's technology, a personal letter via conventional mail can put the cheer back into the holidays.

Your letter doesn't have to be long, just enough to let everyone know what your family is up to. A paragraph on each family member is usually sufficient. I have tried several formats, the typical newsletter style, and an informal letter, photo essay and last year I just sent a poem to let them, all know I love them.

I started this tradition in 1993 when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter. I took a journalist approach, using a headline to announce the future arrival of our child. Here's the opening: Extra, Extra! The Dupie's of Twentynine Palms are Having a Baby! I chose to write this letter as if someone were writing a feature about us. We had just moved to the desert in California; I used the interview format and mini features to update the family on our new home. That has been my favorite to date, because it was funny and by writing about our lives in the third person made it unique.

You don't have to be a great writer to entertain family and friends, just be yourself. I also find that if I write the letter as if I am talking directly to someone it has a natural flow and shows my personality.

If letter writing doesn't appeal to you, try a photo essay. I have done this using my favorite photo editing software. I place several photos on the page that highlights the year in the life of our family. I add small captions about what we were doing and how old the kids were.

Another way to liven up your holiday card is to compose a poem. Last year I chose to write on the love I feel for everyone in my life. I printed it out with a nice frame from a publishing program and inserted a copy into each card. If poetry isn't something you enjoy, try passing along a favorite holiday recipe that may have been a tradition while you were growing up. Include a special memory with the recipe to personalize it. You may be surprised at the response you get from this one as the memory you tell usually sparks others to remember and share.

This year I am planning a special newsletter that will not only update, it will serve as the holiday card. I plan to send out a folded four-page newsletter complete with miniature stories on each family member. I am also including pictures and some of the kid's art and writing with the aid of a scanner. I am so excited about the project that I have already started compiling photos and jotting down funny stories and milestones in a journal. I plan to spend the week after Thanksgiving putting my yearly newsletter together. My goal is to have this in the mail by the second week of December or earlier, so I don't have to think of cards while I'm running to find the perfect gift.

Add a little holiday cheer to your card, it could be the perfect gift to give this holiday season. Happy Writing and Happy Holidays!

Copyright 2000-2001 by Linda S. Dupie. All rights reserved.

As we visit museums and libraries and read books about a region, we often find letters or excerpts which give us insight into the history of a town.  We discover the charm of old letters that may tell a story, enlighten us about daily life, or give us insight into the people of those days.

So often we throw out letters we receive from family and friends.  How can we keep everything?  So much of what we get from the postal, and now e-mail, is relegated to the waste basket or delete file.

However, the importance of letters in compiling a family history and making ancestors come alive was brought to my attention when I discovered letters written by my forebears. These were tucked away midst some papers in an old house. I've also found other letters from ancestors in museum collections. 

As I read these simple messages, about everyday affairs, some events mundane and others of importance, I learned more about these people who had been simply names and dates on a family tree.

If you are interested in the history of an area or of your family, see where letters may be archived or where collections may be saved in book form.

Letters in Museum Collections

My family newsletter listed things each family member was proud of (and not so proud of) for that year. It also included short articles on important family events, such as weddings, births or the death of a beloved pet. Because it was just for us, we included personal thoughts and emotions, family jokes, details of embarrassing experiences or opinions we'd never think of putting in an "outside the home" newsletter. We also included humorous spoofs of current movies and television shows, and even fake advertising. 

If you are planning to encourage all family members to contribute, it is important to keep in mind that there are many ways to make a contribution. Not all family members are comfortable writing articles or expressing their thoughts. Someone might want to include a "top ten" list of the best meals Dad ever made, or photographs of family members on their birthdays, or a drawing of their dream for the future. The point is to involve every family member. One year when there were two small babies in our family, everyone (including the babies) made handprints for the newsletter. The handprints were not labeled in the final version, so we all had some fun guessing who made each one.

3) The Format: 

Once you've collected the information and stories, they need to be put together in a format that is accessible to everyone. The fact that many families have a home computer makes this relatively easy – family members can submit materials by e-mail, or on disk, and re-typing is not required. The result could be a web page (though this might be more public than you'd like), an e-mail newsletter, or a print newsletter. For my family, our newsletter had the format of a newspaper, with sections for different types of content, such as family news, entertainment, accomplishments and sports. Another way to arrange things might be to give each person their own individual page, as well as a page or two for family happenings. Keep in mind how many copies you want to make and whether you want to include artwork and photos in the newsletter.

Although it takes time to think about and prepare, an in-family newsletter is a worthwhile family project. Seventeen issues later, my own collection of annual family newsletters is one of the most valuable things I own. I've used it many times to remember an event or date from years past. I appreciate reading familiar words from family members who are no longer with us. And best of all, it captures the fun-loving spirit of my family at different points in time. 

By Misty Freeman

Do you need time to write? Are you at a loss as to how to find it? Then try this on for size. Our family picks three days out of the week to sit down for one hour to write whatever comes to mind.  It isn’t always easy; my 8 year old whines and complains there is nothing to write about.  “I’m sorry,” I tell him, “ but this just isn’t true!”  My other two children don’t know how to write so I take the time to work out a project idea with each of them, before I sit down and begin to write myself.  

The days chosen to be creative with paper and pencil are Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays.  Sunday mornings are great because they go to Sunday school and that is a story just waiting for them to write or illustrate!  Here is the routine I use with my family.

Before we leave for church I tell my youngest children to listen carefully to what your bible schoolteacher says and draw a picture of what is most interesting to you.  Fold it and place it in your bible so you won’t lose it, and when you get home we will have our story to draw!

They arrive home, happy, ready, and willing to sit and begin their projects. First we go over
what they discussed in bible school.  Following our discussion they receive their papers along with pencils, scissors and crayons.  Sometimes one-hour isn’t long enough, so they sit for as long as it takes to complete their work.  The pictures they draw are just as good as written words.  They color each picture and relay it back to me in an educated manner.  This keeps my personal writing time free and gives them time to explore their own imaginations.

How I work with my oldest son on Sundays is a little different, since he can read and write very well.  He takes a couple of pieces of loose-leaf paper with him to church to write down the most educational aspects of the sermon.   At home we go over what he learned to make sure he fully comprehends what he is writing about.  

During the week things work differently, I don’t start their day off writing because I think it is better for them to take some information in first.  At breakfast we discuss what time we will meet and write.  The two younger kids leave with books on these days and my oldest son will read to them and then let them relay back what their interpretation is.  

Shortly after reading my sons will go outside with their binoculars to sit and study airplanes flying by, plants, and bugs.  My daughter likes to go out with her drawing tablet and draw pictures of flowers and bees. They are all using this time in an educational way and building on their creative skills.  

Around two in the afternoon we gather to discuss our day and decide what each one of us is going to write. This idea can work for anyone, and it is wonderful for the kids.  After I have them organized I take this time to work on my own writing and I read it to them after we have finished.  It never hurts to get a child’s input after all they look forward to receiving ours. It might be rough in the beginning but soon your kids will fall right into the routine.  It is the best learning experience I have had with my kids and the time spent together is peaceful and relaxing. It is a group process, we are learning from each other and spending quality time as a family writing.   Next time, instead of sending your children outdoors for the day, give them a pencil and paper, the finished project will be well worth it for all!

Teaching Our Next Authors, By Margaret Helmstetter

Writers are born everyday, a few become tomorrow's authors. How can you help insure that today’s writers fulfill their potential? Adults in a child’s life can help encourage them to write, to learn, and to express themselves with the written word.

We can help our infants become tomorrow's authors by reading to them. Reading is the half of writing that is neglected so often. A love of the way words flow together and build pictures in their minds will encourage children to love words. A love of words is a step up the ladder to a love of writing. Children will learn to write, not because writing is something that must be done, but because it is a way to express their creativity and uniqueness.

Read to infants, not just the books that are written for infants, but also anything that contains words. Read the paper aloud, or the novel you are reading. Of course, they won't understand the exact words. However, they will begin to grasp the complexities of grammar on a subconscious level. They will learn the way words can flow, the way a word can mean one thing when used a certain way and something different when used with other words.

As a child's speech and vocal abilities improve, allow them to verbalize stories and tell you what they are imagining when they play. Ask questions to help build the details. ? What color is the truck? What time of day is it? How tall is it?? Encourage your child to fill in the details that they see in their minds as they play.

Play 'what if' games to encourage their imaginations to soar. Ask 'what if' the tower falls? 'What if' we build a house here? The answers are never wrong, and they learn to explain their dreams and visions to someone who is able to listen. Ask for clarification when a detail seems fuzzy, or not in sequence with other details. They are never wrong, but sometimes the details are not clear to them until they have been asked a question.

When you talk to your child use words correctly, and use words that may be new to them. The larger their vocabulary, the easier it will be for them to convert the imaginary of places and people into words when they can write. When they ask what a word means, tell them; use a dictionary to look the word up together, and see the exact meaning. When your child starts school make a game of learning two or three new words each day. You are giving your child the gift of writer's tools.

When your child has started reading words and short sentences, have them dictate a story to you. Write it and have the child read it back to you. This will encourage the child to edit their own words, and it will allow them to see the words on paper. If you have friends or relatives who live some distance away, mailing a book written by your child will be a thrilling way to encourage your budding author and with the benefits of modern technology can be a beautiful keepsake.

When your child is able to write most words with little or no assistance, let him compose letters to read or to be read by family on a specified night. Each child can write a page or two about their week, a story they enjoy, or anything that interests them. The content is not important. The act of putting their thoughts on paper, reading them, and having them read will help the child to grow as a writer. As with any other skill, the more it is practiced the more proficient your child will become.

Once your child becomes skilled at writing short stories and reports with pen and paper, allow him to use the word processor to hone his editing and writing skills. A spell check program can be a liability if they don't already have a good grasp of the written language. The ease of writing on the word processor will encourage them to learn typing and the craft of longer stories and reports.

Your child will learn to love words. Even if your child never becomes an author, they will have the tools to succeed no matter what they choose to do. The writers of short family stories today will become tomorrow's novelists, and you'll be able to tell the world that you helped them become a successful writer.

Copyright 2001/2002, by Margaret Helmstetter. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2002, by Junette Clayborn. All rights researved.

FAMILY JOURNALS: A Timely Legacy

By Mary Miller

Our family has marked milestones and created memories with a family journal—a cooperatively written record of our everyday life and special occasions for a number of years. Today, although diverse and hectic schedules scatter us, the journal entries keep us connected as a family. Sometimes individually, sometimes together, we laugh and reminisce over the memories and stories spilled in ink across the pages of our early journals. Your family can create a unique family history with this fun and inexpensive activity, too. Here's how it works.

As a family, gather daily, weekly whatever time fits your schedule and share your personal stories. A designated recorder enters the stories. In the beginning, that may be a parent, especially if the children are too young to write. Your family journal can be a wonderful pre-writing exercise for young children that teaches them how their unique verbal expression and world view can be transferred to a page and preserved. They may become communicators that are more confident as a result.

How to get started

To garner enthusiasm for the family journal, include everyone from the start. You'll need paper and pen to begin. The journal should be something special, but doesn't have to be more expensive than a 79-cent spiral notebook that you personalize. Using magazines and glue, have the family decorate the journal to reflect your interests. For instance, if Dad is an avid golfer, you might glue an illustration of a golf ball on the front. Alternatively, perhaps your family has favorite outings—biking, going to the zoo, swimming-that you can depict on the cover. Cut individual letters from magazines to spell out "family journal" or names of family members.

Other ideas for family journals include-

* A three-ring binder with a clear vinyl pocket you can fill with family photos to create a collage for your journal cover. Because you can use loose-leaf paper, this type of journal gives you the opportunity to work simultaneously as individuals with your own piece of paper, as well as collaboratively.

* A clothbound artist's sketchbook sold in art supply and bookstores. Choose from many sizes and covers, including splashy-colored canvas or sophisticated leather. Illustrate your words by pasting special mementos next to them, as you would in a scrapbook.

* The pen should be as special as the journal itself. Inexpensive pens can be decorated as easily as inexpensive notebooks. Use glitter or brightly-colored tape and top it off with a feather. You might even want to let everyone have their own color ink to represent your family as individual colors that come together to make a beautiful rainbow.

What to put in your family journal

When you're ready to begin making entries, keep it simple. Your first entry might just be a declaration of your family's intention to keep a journal. Here's an example: "On this first day of October in the year 2001, the Smith family declares that it will share the stories of our lives with each other every evening, at bedtime, and record them in this journal." Not only does a declaration like this express your intent, but, by specifying how often you will make entries, it also expresses your commitment.

To get the best entries, ask questions that elicit compelling and colorful responses to fill your journal. Here are some question asking tips:

* Avoid questions that can be answered with just one word, like "yes," "no," or "fine." For instance, instead of asking, "How was school today?" ask, "What did you see on your way to school today?"

* Ask easy questions. There seems to be a question-answering anxiety gene in all of us, so create comfort zone by keeping your questions simple and to the point. This is supposed to be fun, not agonizing. One effective way to begin is with a biographical sketch of each family member where the first question you ask is: "What's your name?" From there you can go to "How old are you?" "When's your birthday?" "What's your favorite color?" "Why is that your favorite color?"

* You can prepare questions ahead of time or ask them off the top of your head, but always listen carefully to responses so you can ask follow-up questions for more details.

* Don't let parents ask all the questions; kids are sure to have some of their own.

How much time will it take?

Not much, in fact, if you don't have the time for a daily or weekly
journal, try other forms of the family journal, including these:

Vacation journal. Collect post cards and travel brochures from the places your family travels. Then fill the journal with family vacation impressions—the best part, the worst part, favorite activities, etc.

Holiday journal. Engage extended family members in this journal. When you host Thanksgiving, ask all your guests to make an entry about what they're most thankful for. If you're not hosting the holiday, bring your journal along to pass around with a question appropriate to the occasion you're celebrating.

Birthday journal. Whom did you invite? What did you do? What were your favorite presents? What do you think you're going to like best about being this age? All family members can record these things on their special day.

No matter how much time or money you invest, family journaling pays big returns, immediate and long lasting. In addition to improving communication between you and your children, it can help everyone in your family to:

* become more keen observers of life, knowing that they're going to be asked for details when it's family journal time.

* Learn the importance of personal story and honor it by sharing it with each other.

* Close the door on one day, knowing the next day holds a fresh, blank page to begin a new story or continue an old one.