Interview a Family Member Project
Prepare questions and interview a family member about their life — building listening skills, curiosity, and intergenerational connection.
What You'll Need
- 1Paper for writing questions
- 2Pencil or pen
- 3Recording device (optional, for replaying later)
What You'll Need
Paper for writing interview questions
A pencil or pen for notes
A recording device — a phone works great (optional, for replaying later)
How to Play
Brainstorm questions together: "What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?" "What was school like?" "What's the best advice you've ever gotten?"
Write them down with space for notes. Aim for 5-8 questions.
Set up a real interview — sit across from each other with the questions ready.
Coach interview skills: "Look at Grandma when she talks. Listen to her whole answer before asking the next question."
Encourage follow-up: "That's interesting! Can you tell me more about that?"
After the interview, debrief: "What surprised you? What did you learn that you didn't know?"
Create a summary — write it up, draw pictures, or save the recording as a family keepsake.
Why It Works
Interviewing someone requires sustained, focused attention on another person — the exact skill that good listeners need. Your child has to resist the urge to talk about themselves and instead stay curious about someone else's story. The question-writing develops perspective-taking ("What would be interesting to ask?"), and the follow-up questions require active listening in real time. The intergenerational connection is a bonus — kids who know their family stories have stronger identities and better emotional resilience.
Tips
Practice with you first, then interview a grandparent or family friend.
Open-ended questions get better answers than yes/no questions. Coach this difference.
Recording the interview is a treasure. Grandparent interviews become priceless family documents.
Let the child present their findings at dinner. This builds public speaking confidence.
Age Adaptation Tips
School-age kids can take more ownership. Let them lead the activity, experiment with variations, and explain what they learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 30 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: paper for writing questions, pencil or pen, recording device (optional, for replaying later).
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 5-8 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
Ratings & Reviews
Sign in to leave a rating or review.
Add to Your Weekly Plan
Schedule this activity into your family's week. It takes about 30 min.
Free account required to save plans
Explore More
Love this activity?
Create a free account and add it to your weekly planner. Discover hundreds more activities matched to your child's age.