5 Unique Ways to Preserve Your Family Memories
Making sure you have meaningful memories to easily share with your loved ones is an important part of being a grandparent. Your stories form the very threads woven into the social fabric of the younger generation. They provide context as they build a sense of self within the social network of family.
Here are five unique ways to preserve your families stories and memories:
1. Use Your Phone to Digitize Family Photos
Sometimes your best family photos are stuck in an old box in the closet, making it hard to share those memories with your loved ones. Now, with the help of your phone, digitizing those photos is easier than ever! iPhones offer a simple, built-in method for digitizing photos using the "Scan Documents" feature in the Notes app. First, open the Notes app and create a new note. Then, simply tap the camera icon and select "Scan Documents." Alternatively, you can download PhotoScan by Google Photos from your app store, providing another easy-to-use solution to turn old memories into easily shareable photos.
For more detailed instructions, check out these videos on how to scan photos with your iPhone or Android device.
2. Log Special Moments in a Family Event Journal
Journaling is an easy method for capturing the details of those special moments in our lives. By setting aside a few minutes after each family event to write down the essential details, you can create a beautiful book of your shared memories. You can even include your loved ones in this project by taking turns writing each entry. This way, your journal will capture each special occasion and the perspectives of those you love.
3. Record Voice Notes
Use your phone to record stories as they’re shared
While photos and journals help us to remember the past, there is something extra special about hearing your loved one’s voice. Maybe you're at family dinner, and Grandpa is about to tell that favorite childhood story. Thanks to the Voice Memos app on your iPhone, you can easily capture every nuance and inflection with the press of a button.
Be sure to click the name of the recording after it’s taken and rename it so the stories you want to find are easy to access later.
4. Create a Digital Family Photo Album
There's nothing like flipping through your old photo albums, each photo hand-selected to highlight a beautiful memory. Unfortunately, today's photos often get lost in the camera roll next to our accidental screenshots. However, you can now recreate those special collections with iCloud by creating a digital photo album where you can store the most important memories. Digital photo albums can even be shared with your loved ones, allowing everyone to gather their favorite family photos in one place! With everyone sharing their favorite images, you never know what sweet memories you will find next time you open your digital photo album.
Check out these video for step-by-step instructions on how to create a shared photo albums with iCloud or Google Photos.
5. Interview a Loved One
If pictures are worth a thousand words then videos are priceless! Imagine your grandkids getting to watch you tell your stories and hear your voice for the rest of their lives.
It’s easy to use your phone to record your stories. There are also several apps and services that will help you.