Guides

Guides for keeping family stories

Updated November 10, 2026

Plain, practical guides for anyone trying to find a gift for a parent or grandparent who doesn’t want more stuff, or trying to get the family stories down before the details fade. Each one includes things you can do yourself this week, with nothing to buy.

Gift ideas

• Gift ideas for a grandparent who has everything: time together with a date on it, help with jobs they’ve put off, family photos and recipes, and ways to keep their stories.
• Meaningful Christmas gifts for aging parents: gifts of time, gifts that make everyday life easier, and gifts that keep the family’s history, with tips on giving them well.

Recording family stories

• How to record a parent’s life story, with questions to ask: what you need, how to ask, questions sorted by theme, and how to keep and share the recordings.
• Questions to ask your grandparents about their life: questions about childhood, family, work, love and the world they grew up in, plus lighter ones for any time.