Family History Activities
25 Fun Family History Activities to Start Exploring Your Roots Today
Not sure how to begin tracing your family tree? You don’t need to feel overwhelmed. These simple, enjoyable family history activities will help you get started — one small step at a time.
Whether you’ve always been curious about your grandparents’ stories or you just discovered an old photo album in the attic, diving into family history can be one of the most rewarding things you do. The good news? You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to start.
Below, you’ll find a guide to 25 fun family history activities that anyone can try — from curious beginners to families who want to make it a group project. Pick one or two that feel easy and go from there.
Why Family History Activities Matter
Researching your family roots is more than a hobby. It helps you understand who you are, where your family came from, and what stories shaped your life. For kids, family history activities build a sense of identity and connection. For adults, it can be deeply healing and surprisingly fun.
The secret to getting started: You don’t have to do everything at once. Pick just one activity from this list and try it today. Small steps lead to big discoveries.
Easy Family History Activities for Beginners
If you’re brand new to this, these are the best places to begin:
- Set up a free account on FamilySearch.org — the world’s largest free genealogy database.
- Add your first 4 generations to your family tree. Start with what you already know — your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
- Learn how to use FamilySearch on your phone, tablet, or computer so you can research anytime.
- Scan old photos from family albums. Label them with names and dates if you know them, then upload them to FamilySearch to share with relatives.
- Start a family journal — even a few sentences about a memory counts. You can use a diary, notepad, audio recording, or a simple Word document.
Family History Activities to Keep Going
Once you’ve got the basics down, these activities will help you dig deeper:
- Improve your tree data by adding sources. Look for the blue hints inside FamilySearch — they connect your relatives to real historical records.
- Try “Get Involved” (formerly called Indexing) on FamilySearch. You help transcribe historical records one name at a time, making them searchable for others.
- Use the FamilySearch Wiki to expand your family lines or help someone else research their roots in other countries.
- Explore 50+ FamilySearch partner sites — including a free Ancestry account — for even more records.
Family History Activities for Kids and the Whole Family
Getting children involved in family history early is one of the best gifts you can give them. Here are some fun, kid-friendly family history activities:
- Hold a Family Home Evening with family history as the theme. Share stories, look at old photos together, and let everyone ask questions.
- Print family charts, stories, and photos and hang them up at home as a visual reminder of your roots.
- Create a family history for yourself or a relative — even a single page of memories and key dates is valuable.
- Learn your family stories and practice telling them to others, especially younger children.
- Reach out to extended family through reunions, newsletters, phone calls, texts, or family apps.
- Explore FamilySearch’s activities and games — there are interactive tools designed especially for families and kids.
- Read a book or watch a video about family history to learn new skills and get inspired.
- Build up a love for family history in others by sharing what you’ve discovered with the people around you.
Tip for parents: Kids are more engaged when they feel like detectives. Frame family history activities as a “mystery mission” to discover who your ancestors were.
Family History Activities in 5 Minutes or Less
Short on time? These quick family history activities take no more than five minutes but can spark something much bigger:
- Improve place names in your family tree (town, country, region)
- Do a quick name review — look up one ancestor and see what records exist
- Try a full name review on a relative you haven’t researched yet
- Explore BYU’s random hints and geo-hints for new clues in your tree
- Share a family story in a group chat or family social media group
Temple and Deeper Family History Activities
For those who want to take their family history research even further:
- Reserve a name for the temple using the Ordinance Ready feature on FamilySearch.
- Find a new family name needing temple work using Family Ordinance Opportunities and BYU’s Virtual Pedigree tool.
- Visit a local temple — even just driving by and walking the grounds can be a meaningful experience.
- Attend RootsTech online — the world’s largest family history conference. Watch free videos and classes at your own pace.
📄 The Complete Checklist: 25 Fun Ways to Be Involved with Family History
Below is the full reference guide from our document. It covers all 25 family history activities organized by category — perfect to print out or bookmark. Check off each one as you go!
How to use it: Don’t try to do everything at once. Pick just one or two items that feel easy right now. Even a single checkmark gets the ball rolling.
| 🔵 Begin — Set Up Your Foundation | |
| ☐ | Set up a free account on FamilySearch.org — always free, world’s largest family tree |
| ☐ | Add your first 4 generations to your tree |
| ☐ | Learn how to access FamilySearch on your mobile device, tablet, and computer |
| 🟢 Continue — Go Deeper | |
| ☐ | Improve your tree data by adding sources (look for blue hints in FamilySearch) |
| ☐ | Scan old photos, organize them, upload to FamilySearch, and share with relatives |
| ☐ | Try “Get Involved” (new indexing) — transcribe one name, a family, or a full record set |
| ☐ | Use the FamilySearch Wiki to expand your lines or help someone else research |
| 🟣 Family Activities — Involve Everyone | |
| ☐ | Hold a Family Home Evening with family history as the theme |
| ☐ | Print family charts, stories, and photos to display at home |
| ☐ | Create or expand a personal or family history document |
| ☐ | Learn your family stories and share them with others |
| ☐ | Start a journal — diary, notepad, audio recording, or digital document |
| ☐ | Explore FamilySearch’s built-in activities and games |
| ☐ | Read a book or watch a podcast/video blog about family history |
| ☐ | Reach out to extended family through reunions, newsletters, calls, or apps |
| ☐ | Build a love of family history in the people around you |
| 🟠 Temple Activities | |
| ☐ | Reserve a name for the temple using Ordinance Ready |
| ☐ | Find a new family name needing temple work via Family Ordinance Opportunities & BYU’s Virtual Pedigree |
| ☐ | Visit a local temple and walk the grounds |
| 🟡 Further Education | |
| ☐ | Attend the latest annual RootsTech conference online and watch free videos or classes |
| ☐ | Explore 50+ FamilySearch partner sites (includes a free Ancestry account) |
| ⏱ What Can I Do in 5 Minutes? | |
| ☐ | Improve place names in your tree |
| ☐ | Quick name review — one name at a time |
| ☐ | Full name review on an ancestor you haven’t researched yet |
| ☐ | Try BYU’s random hints or geo-hints |
| 🔴 Help — When You Get Stuck | |
| ☐ | Contact your local Family History Consultants for free in-person help |
| ☐ | Call the FamilySearch Help Line: 866-406-1830 |
© 2026 denpug.com — Free to share and print for personal use.
Where to Get Help with Your Family History
Getting stuck is completely normal, especially when you’re just starting out. Here’s where you can get free support:
- Contact your local Family History Consultants — many churches and community centers have trained volunteers who help for free.
- Call the FamilySearch Help Line: 866-406-1830 — real people are available to walk you through any challenge.
- Visit FamilySearch.org for free tutorials, how-to guides, and video walkthroughs.
Your Next Step
You don’t need a big plan. You don’t need fancy software. You just need to pick one of these family history activities and start today. Whether it’s scanning a single old photo or making a quick phone call to a relative, every step you take brings your family’s story a little closer to life.
Ready to begin? Visit denpug.com to explore more guides, tips, and resources for your family history journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family History Activities
What are the best family history activities for beginners?
The easiest starting points are creating a free FamilySearch account, scanning old photos, and interviewing an older relative. These take less than an hour and give you something to build on right away.
How do I involve kids in family history activities?
Kids love detective-style projects. Try a Family Home Evening focused on sharing stories, let them draw their own family tree, or create a photo guessing game with old pictures of relatives.
Is FamilySearch free to use?
Yes — FamilySearch.org is completely free. You can create an account and access millions of historical records at no cost, forever.
What if I get stuck while researching family history?
Call the FamilySearch Help Line at 866-406-1830. Volunteers and trained staff are available to walk you through any roadblocks you hit.
How much time do family history activities take?
As little as 5 minutes! Simple tasks like improving place names in your tree or doing a quick name review can be done in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. Bigger projects like building your tree or scanning photos can be done at your own pace over weeks or months.
