What age group do you think is best for starting Family History in Primary?
What age group do you think is best for starting Family History in Primary? I have a 10 year old in my ward who was in my primary class. He has struggled with his parents splitting up a couple years ago. I noticed when I have spoken to him about his ancestors he really lights up. I feel this could really help him through a hard time. I have tried to get his mom to get started in her own Family History explaining that Family History is healing and can truly help her and her boys. She believes it will. I have helped her start a FS account, I have created basic start up reports on things she can do, I even got her to take a DNA test in order to help her locate her possible father's side of the family. but Honestly I can never really get her to act upon anything. I'm thinking if I can get her son involved this can be positive all the way around.
Any suggestions or feed back would be appreciated.
Answers
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@Cynthia May Hofmeister I am a FHC leader (formerly known as "Director"), and can assure you that isn't necessarily too young! Every child is different in terms of their familiarity with technical things, but many 10 year olds can navigate around the internet and various software programs better than many adults! Case in point:
In our stake, I personally know of two 10 year old girls that have been doing indexing for some time now, and before the COVID shutdown they were frequently in the FHC before/after Activity Days activities on those evenings during the week, as well as on Sundays before/after their ward met (we open for members on Sundays before and after the two wards meet in the stake center building where the FHC is located).
By January of this year, between the two of them they had completed more than 200 batches of indexing work. I've stood behind them occasionally or talked with them while they worked, and been very impressed with the care they took in making sure they were following batch rules, accurately entering data, etc. Both were willing to ask for help if they weren't sure of something, rather than just enter something to get finished. I'm also aware of at least one other Primary age young man who was being taught how to do indexing by his Deacon-age older brother - it was a really neat thing to watch one Wednesday evening!
I think your perception on this issue is to be commended! Great observation. I'd say, "go for it!!" 😀 Of course, he'll need good training, whether he's doing indexing or focusing on researching and entering data in FamilySearch/ Family Tree, and some side-by-side help (either physically, or using the Consultant Planner tool while distancing is still an issue). I like the old alleged Chinese saying (or wherever it really came from): "Tell me, I forget. Show me, I remember. Do it with me and I understand."
Great observation! You may make a very special difference in the life of a struggling young boy and help him to feel much more connected than he has been able to feel up to now, knowing only his parents and maybe a few other relatives in his short life so far - and now all that's disintegrated for him. Go ahead and help introduce him to the REST of his family that would love for him to get to know them through records, photos, stories, etc. With the Spirit, he'll feel that love and connectedness to replace the disconnection he's recently experienced.
Also, you may have picked up on another piece of the problem. If mom needs help in locating "her possible father's side of the family," that would suggest she's never felt connected to family herself. That's a topic for outside of this discussion group, but something that helps keep marriage and family therapists in business as they help people to heal. Again, I suspect you're on to something that involves a multi-generational disconnect. What wonderful healing opportunities may potentially be hiding just out of sight here.
Great job!
-- Chris
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Cindy, @Chris Schmink has gives you some sound suggestions. It is obvious to me that you have been prompted by the Spirit to reach out to this young boy. You have a great opportunity to be a mentor in his young life, make the most of it (not intending to heap any guilt on you. Start slow,find what he wants to know and what he is capable of doing, but most importantly just love him.
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@Chris Schmink Thank you for responding to my post and for the multiple suggestions. Your correct about the multi-generational disconnect as well. 😊 I've personally been in some form of FH calling for the last 26 plus years. And during that time I've learned that many members who don't participate it is typically because they have a deeper issue or they feel a family member is/has already completed the research or work.
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@Steve Walker16 Thank you for the feed back. I do believe the spirit has put me in this families life in order to help them during a difficult time. Once again thank you for your feed back.
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Hello,
I am a Youth temple and family history consultant. I am currently 16 but started doing family history/indexing when I was about 10. I definitely think that there are a number of 10 year olds that can benefit from family history. I caught on and depending on the skill level of the kid I think they will too. Even if you explain some basic features and get them hooked I feel that they will learn it quickly and soon be learning new skills own their own or with minimal help.
So in short the answer to your question is yes you should totally reach out and help the primary boy learn how to do the family history. I think he is old enough and it could really help him.
After helping him I might also reach out to the other 10/11 year olds in your ward and see if any of them are interested or could be helped by learnings how to index or do some family history.
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@silentbeauty silentbeauty What better endorsement than from one of our youth consultants! Yes - they CAN do it! Thanks.
--Chris
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@silentbeauty silentbeauty Thank you so much for your response to my post about what age group is best for starting family history in primary. I will be working with this young man. As far as the rest of our primary our ward has very few children. the others are 6 and 3. I have given them pictures to color and talk about the temple and families being together for ever with them. I believe strongly youth can benefit from participating in Family History.
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Indexing projects are a good way for young teens to start. But merging records, and correcting relationships, and those kind of difficult items, probably should be saved for older, more mature and slowly working people. Just yesterday I was working with my 54 year old daughter on some issues she was having on her husband's pedigree, and it was difficult for both of us to be able to untangle relationships, even based on sources. So... always start with prayer and then remember that Joseph Smith was 14 when he had his first vision, but was not permitted to translate the BOM until about age 25. Hmmm, lesson there!
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@Cathy Pearce Anderegg thank yo so much for responding to my question on age.
im so blessed to have people such as on this list willing to share their time and knowledge. It really mean so much to me. Thank you!
Cindy
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