Interviewing children isn’t usually what we think of when we say, “It is important to interview our family members.” Instead, we might think of interviewing our elderly family members and recording their voices for posterity, but what about interviewing a child or toddler?
Five Tips to Remember While Interviewing a Young Child
Several types of interviewing techniques work for children. Some techniques are the same as you might use in conducting any family interviews, and some are unique. Consider the age of the child being interviewed as your guide to having a successful toddler or child interview.
Being prepared for any interview is important. If you haven’t been around children much, these helpful tips might make your time together go smoother.
- Time. What day or time of day would work best so that the child is in a good mood? Some children need a midday nap, and most children will have a better time if they have a full belly. Make sure your little friend has been fed and is not tired. Keep in mind that a child’s attention span is short. Be reasonable in how much time you expect the child to spend chatting with you. A good rule of thumb might be 1 minute for every year of the child’s age.
- Setting. What setting would make the child feel most comfortable? Children of different ages may require different settings. Some children may enjoy talking more if they are playing. Sitting on the floor and playing with their favorite things might be relaxing and comforting. It is fun to record a video of the interview, but it may be uncomfortable or scary for them. Consider inviting Mom or Dad to be in the background or tucking the camera away in a corner. Lastly, some children enjoy dressing up, but not all do. Don’t be too concerned about what they are wearing if you plan to record a video; just keep them comfortable.
- Plan the questions in advance. Any good interview begins with well-considered questions. Consider writing the questions down and giving them to the parents to review ahead of time. Some ideas for questions are shared below. Questions can be about the child or about his or her family and surroundings.
- Decide on how the interview will be conducted, and obtain permission. Will this interview be video or voice recorded or printed in a book? Have you received verbal or written consent from the parents of the child before recording the interview in any way? Children should be protected and not exploited. It is important to fully disclose to the parents what their child will be asked, under what conditions things will be recorded, and with whom and how the interview will be shared.
- Test your equipment. Before beginning your interview, check all your equipment. If you are doing a voice or video recording, check the sound quality and lighting before beginning. You might also consider doing a test recording with the child. Some small children have very soft voices, and you may conduct a wonderful interview only to find later that their voice could not be heard. If you decide to use a type of microphone, be sure to practice using it before the interview.
5 Toddler Interview Questions for Ages 2 to 5
There are lots of fun questions to ask your littlest interviewees. You can find dozens of interesting interview questions online. Some questions that relate to family history might be especially interesting. The following 5 questions are for children ages 2 to 5.
- Do you look more like Mommy or Daddy?
- What do you think Mommy looked like when she was a little girl? What do you think Daddy looked like when he was a little boy?
- What is your very favorite thing to play with? What do you think Mommy and Daddy liked to play with when they were little?
- What is the funniest thing you can do? What about your mommy or daddy? Your grandpa or grandma?
- What would you name your first child? (You could also read them a list of family names and ask if they like the name or not!)
5 Interview Questions for Ages 6 to 10
Older children have some interesting ideas and thoughts too. Here are some unique questions just for them!
- Do you know what an ancestor is? Who is your favorite ancestor and why?
- What is your very first memory of Mom and Dad?
- What do you love most about Grandma and Grandpa?
- Tell me about your favorite family vacation or trip.
- Describe your future family? What will they be like, where will you live, and how many children will you have? How many pets will you have?
A Few More Questions for All Ages
- If your pet could talk, what would it say about your family?
- How did you get your name? Who gave it to you? Why did they choose that name for you?
- If you could choose your own name, what would it be? Why?
- What is Mom’s name? Dad’s name? Grandma’s name? Grandpa’s name?
- What school did your mom and dad go to?
- Tell me about Mom or Dad’s job.
- What is the best thing about you?
- What chores do you do around the house?
- What is something you hate to do?
- What do you wish you were good at or want to learn to be better at?
- Tell me about your school experience.
Interviewing children about their family or themselves is a great way to build a relationship and fortify their self-worth. Children love to talk about themselves and what is important to them. Asking questions also allows you the opportunity to share your family stories with them.
Saving Your Interviews
Once you have finished your interview, remember to preserve it. FamilySearch Memories is one way to preserve and share your memories, including interviews. Or you can try using the FamilySearch Memories app. Whether you include a transcript of the interview or a voice recording, saving it to FamilySearch Memories is easy and free.
By default, FamilySearch Memories are public so other relatives can find them on the FamilySearch Family Tree. However, if you are concerned about uploading children’s interviews online, be aware that memories can be marked as private. To learn more about making memories private, read these helpful articles:
Children’s interviews are something special and can be a new part of any family tradition. Consider interviewing children regularly, such as on their birthday, and see how their answers develop and change over time. The whole family will enjoy hearing the responses of their littlest family members for years to come.
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