The importance of knowing one's family history is probably more urgent today than in years past. Families are more spread apart than they used to be, and family bonds have become much harder to maintain. Gone are the days when whole families were born, raised, and died in the same town.
It was not until a few decades ago that the subject of genealogy became fashionable to study again. The movie "Roots" ignited a spark that exploded with families wanting to know just where they came from and what their own roots were.
It is very important to teach children from a young age about family history. It gives the child a sense of pride in his/her ancestry and a greater understanding of their place in the family unit. Children can learn at an early age that it is imperative that they keep the history alive for future generations. Teach them to keep a diary or journal and to take photographs as documentation and let them share that information with younger siblings.
Another very important reason to know family history is when it comes to health care. Knowing one's family health history can mean the difference in correct treatment and is a vital tool for your physician in diagnosis and treatment. A recent study found that although 96% of Americans recognized the importance of family health history, only 33% have ever tried to compile and organize this information for themselves.
Tracing family history can be an inter-generational activity that can be lots of fun as well as being educational.
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