I know, I know… Christmas hasn’t even come yet.
…but we’re already less than 2 weeks away from 2012, so I wanted to share with you my favorite New Year tradition!
I love this tradition because it’s a great way to do several things I love:
1. Watch My Kids Being Cute
2. RECORD My Kids Being Cute
3. Watch My Kids Being Cute in the Past
4. Remember More (than I would have) About My Kids at Each Age
It’s our Yearly Video Interview!
So, here’s what we’ve done:
1. When we first started doing New Years Interviews, Talia was really little. So, we came up with a simple list of questions that she could answer (ie. What’s Your Name? How old are you? What is your favorite color?)
2. Each year we add on a few more questions that we think she can now handle and expand the list, but we keep those simple questions on the list. (That way when you’ve recorded several years’ worth of interviews, you can watch them back to back & see how their answers have changed. Oh, and if you’re good at video editing, it would be so fun to cut from year to year with the same question, in a row!)
3. You can also add things at the end of the interview, like have them sing their favorite song or play something they’ve learned on the piano, or show you a dance move- whatever they’re up to at this age, that you haven’t had a chance to capture on video yet. You will be so happy you have this, in the future!
Here is a list of ideas that you could use for your own list of questions- feel free to change it in any way you like- this is just to get you started!
1. What is your name?
2. How old are you?
3. What is your mom’s name?
4. What does your mom do during the day?
5. What is your dad’s name?
6. What does your dad do during the day?
7. What is your favorite color?
8. What is your favorite thing to eat? (what don’t you like to eat?)
9. Who are your friends?
10. What is your favorite song? Can you sing it for me?
11. What is your sister’s name? (this is fun because they don’t always say the name correctly- for example, my youngest calls my oldest (Talia- ‘Ta-lee-ya’) “Taya”)
12. What is your favorite place to go?
13. What is your favorite thing to do?
14. What do you like about your Mommy? (Daddy, sister, etc.)
15. What do you want to be when you grow up?
16. What is your favorite book?
17. What does (sister/brother) like to do?
Feel free to add questions to the list on the fly, as you go, too. 🙂
Their answers to some of these might inspire you with new questions!
I hope you’re all having a wonderful Christmas week!
If you’re taking a blog-surfing break, we’d love to have you visit with us over at Raising Memories.
Make it a Great Christmas!!
Sewingk says
Love, Love, Love this idea. I’m a grandmother who wishes she had a record of her childern’s voice as they grew. I won’t make the same mistake with my Grandchildern.
Thank you for all you do to make life more fun.
Happy Holidays
Heather Lynne says
So true! They’re so cute & the little stages that they go through seem like they’ll last forever at the time, and then they’re over, and if you don’t have it recorded, you forget!
Missy says
I always mean to do this throughout the year but don’t get around to it. I love the idea of making it a yearly thing you do at the beginning of a new year! Thanks for the great idea, Heather!
Heather Lynne says
I would never do this if I didn’t have a time of year attached to it! I always mean to get things on video, but rarely actually reach for it- I’m so glad I have these yearly interviews, so I know I have one chance per year to definitely get a little summary of each of my girls! 🙂
shelley says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this. now only if santa will bring me a proper video camera. 😉
Bobbi says
I absolutely LOVE this idea! I am implementing it this year. Thanks for the inspiration!
Alison says
So cute! Love the video idea:)
Karen S. says
Great idea. I want to get this accomplished this year. A living record. Cool!
Would make a great wedding present for my kids when they grow u.
Heather Lynne says
Love the wedding gift idea! I’d love it if I could watch a video of myself through the years & see what I was like back then! I also love watching old home videos of my hubby when he was little 🙂 (and how fun would it be if you could see what your parents were like when they were kids?!)
Nathalia says
Loveee the ideia! I will make sure to start doing that!
Thanks!!
Heather Lynne says
Thanks & you’re welcome 🙂
Leah says
So stinkin cute.. Wish I knew this 6 years ago 🙂
Nicole says
I LOVE this idea! I also wish I had it about 3 years ago, but it will be fun to start somewhere.
Liz says
This is such a cute idea, we’re doing it!!! Thanks =)
Heather Lynne says
Oh, good! Have fun with it! 🙂
Christene {Write Your Book in a Weekend Retreat} says
This is such a great idea! I’ve tried other things, but the thought of having recorded memories of my kids from the first of the year to the next makes me so happy! I love it! Thanks for sharing and giving us questions to get our juices flowing. Merry Christmas!!
Heather Lynne says
You’re welcome! 🙂
Tami says
What a great idea! We’ll have to start this … better late than never! I’d also ask what they got for Christmas – might be a nice way to remember some of those special things and when they were given, right? Maybe also who is your hero. And a few spelling words, ha ha.
Heather Lynne says
haha Tami, I can so tell this is from a homeschooling mom by that last suggestion 😉 Cute idea to ask who their hero is! 🙂
Crystal says
I haven’t done this consistently, but I also ask what their favorite toy is (younger kids), and favorite movies or video games (older kids), and who their best friend is, who their favorite teacher is or what their favorite class is. It’s also funny if you ask the kids to tell you a joke.
Heather Lynne says
Haha, love the joke idea- so adding that to my list to see what they come up wtih!
Jenny says
Love this idea! This is exactly the idea I was looking for to start a new tradition. Thanks so much!
Heather Lynne says
Oh good, I’m glad you found it just in time! 🙂
(although I have to admit our interviews were not ‘on time’ last year ;)… better January or February than never, right?? 😉
Mollie Harmison says
Hey Heather! This is Mollie Harmison, (used to be Ellis). I don’t know if you remember me but I was one of your roommates at BYU Idaho for a semester! I l love your idea I totally happened upon on pinterest about the yearly interview and I actually did it today with my daughter today for her 4th birthday. So much fun! Great work!!
julianna says
hi
Beth Marie says
I think this is awesome, oh how funny it will be interviewing my toddler!
Joan says
Great idea! It is similar to something I have started with my grandchildren. I call it the Grandma Survey. I sent my grandchildren a list of questions written out and they fill in the answers. I leave a space at the bottom of the paper for them to draw a picture of themselves.