Tag: #Genealogy for children

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Looking for Roots

bvillareal

rootsPictures have a way of inspiring my writing and this one, in particular, speaks volumes.

This is what the artist, Nyree Reynolds, says about her wonderful painting.

Gathering Chips

This little 4-year-old boy was sent out from England to Australia to help populate Australia. The little ones that arrived had to walk around picking up twigs for the cooking stoves. It was very sad for these children to have to leave their families. The British and Australian government told lies to their families that they would see their kids again. Many of them didn’t.
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          She has beautifully illustrated a very sad point in Australian history.   She has also revealed the tragedy that occurs when a child has to grow up without roots.  An example closer to home is what happened to many of our  Native American children who were removed from their homes and sent to boarding schools to be assimilated into mainstream society.
          When a child has been removed from their home and family or moved from place to place for a long period of time, they lose their sense of self.  This is even more apparent when a child comes from a multicultural/multiracial background.
          So, in order to find some sense of who they are, they try on different personas.  I have seen this multiple times in the children I’ve taught.  I watch as they attempt to fit into one place and then another and finally sometimes settle on being a loner not fitting in anywhere.
          That is the biggest travesty of all.  For when a person finds out about their family roots and traditions and the hardships their ancestors had to overcome, they come to realize those same characteristics; strength, hope, resiliency, intuitiveness, and creativity, are a part of their makeup as well.
          They can also grow to appreciate their family members who are still alive and can share their memories of their journey through life.  This is the biggest blessing of all.
          So, I’d like to encourage you to start looking for your roots and appreciate the older family members who are a wealth spring of information and insight.
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Genealogy in our Jammies

bvillareal

 

A few years ago, after writing the first of a series of children’s books on family history and genealogy, I found a library in Houston, Texas that had a lock-in entitled “Genealogy in our Jammies.” I fell in love with this term because of the picture it represented.

Now, maybe you don’t want to go parading around in your pjs while doing research, but actually, it could be fun! This is the season, after all, to go and get those great matching jammies for Christmas morning.

Background first, right? Well, as a teacher, I participated in many a “Family Nights” through the schools. These were always exciting, engaging nights where everyone worked together on common tasks and celebrated at their attempts and successes in various academic activities.  These were exhilarating and exciting events that everyone enjoyed.

That’s when the idea was born. Why not have Family Events for genealogy? Lock-ins seem to be the norm now with various associations around the country, but I never see anything about family events where the children are invited to participate. Having seen family events in action and having planned many myself, I found this a wonderful idea to bring in younger family members into the “fold,” so to speak, where they would become acclimated to doing actual family history research.  Having worked on several such events, I know just how great they can be.

This is easily done and an exciting prospect for families longing to engage their children in such worthwhile events. Whenever families come together in this nature, it is beneficial to all.

If this interest you, I’ll be working on my genealogy and glad to help!

Becky 

villarealbecky@gmail.com

 

 

Working in jammies