Family Storytelling Night: Creating Traditions Together

Looking for a unique, fun way to bond with your family? Plan a family storytelling night! Gather your family—plus extended relatives if you’d like—to relive some of your family’s best memories, funniest stories, and even the hard times. By sharing your family history, you’ll not only deepen your connection but perhaps even learn a thing or two. Follow these tips to throw an unforgettable family storytelling night.

Pick a theme or prepare questions.
Some guidance will be needed to get the stories flowing. Choose a theme, like travel adventures, holidays, or school, or draft a few prompts to spark stories. You can tell your guests ahead of time or keep the topics and questions a surprise.

Create a cozy ambiance.
Setting the right mood can help make people feel more comfortable with sharing their stories. Make sure there is plenty of seating, warm lighting, and blankets to help people feel relaxed during family storytelling night.

Prepare your family’s favorite snacks and drinks.
No family event is complete without food, so pull together your family’s go-to recipes. Whether it is the appetizer that is always a hit, the sweet tea recipe passed down through generations, or grandma’s famous cookies, a special treat is a great addition to the evening.

Invite all to share their stories.
When it comes time to share stories, make sure that everyone feels welcome to contribute. Go around in a circle or build off of each other naturally. And remember, it’s ok if not everyone shares; listening is part of the night!

Write down your family memories.
As an optional step, take a moment to jot down highlights from the stories. You can write them out fully later if you want to create a family book or just look back on them on your own.

Plan the next storytelling night.
One family storytelling night certainly isn’t enough time to tell all the tales from your family’s history. Make it a regular occurrence to keep the family bonding going in the future.