Christmas in July 2015 day 11 / Noël en juillet 2015 jour 11

CIJ day 11 / jour 11

A memory jar.  I made one for my parents a few years back.  It’s a jar filled with questions that act as prompts so that they can fill a journal with their memories.  It’s a wonderful gift that they will leave us.

Here are some prompts (but you can adapt them as you like) (source : http://writeshop.com/childhood-memories-writing-prompts/ )

22 Writing Prompts That Jog Childhood Memories

1. Describe one of your earliest childhood memories. How old were you? What bits and pieces can you recall?
2. Who was your best childhood friend? Write about some of the fun things you used to do together.
3. Can you remember your mom’s or grandmother’s kitchen? Use sight and smell words to describe it.
4. Describe the most unusual or memorable place you have lived.
5. Did you have your own bedroom growing up, or did you share with a sibling? Describe your room.
6. Were you shy as a child? Bossy? Obnoxious? Describe several of your childhood character traits. How did those qualities show themselves? Are you still that way today?
7. What childhood memories of your mother and father do you have? Describe a couple of snapshot moments.
8. Write about a holiday memory. Where did you go? What did you do? What foods do you remember?
9. Describe your favorite hideaway.
10. Did you attend a traditional school, or were you educated at home? Describe a school-related memory.
11. Think of a time when you did something you shouldn’t have done. Describe both the incident and the feelings they created.
12. Have you ever needed stitches, broken a bone, or been hospitalized? Describe a childhood injury or illness.
13. Do you have quirky or interesting relatives on your family tree? Describe one or two of them.
14. Describe your most memorable family vacation. Where did you go? Did something exciting or unusual happen? Did you eat new or unique foods?
15. Did you grow up with family traditions? Describe one.
16. Books can be childhood friends. What were some of your favorites? Why were they special?
17. Describe a game or activity you used to play with a sibling.
18. What were some of your favorite television shows as a child?
19. What was your most beloved toy? Describe its shape, appearance, and texture. What feelings come to mind when you think of that toy?
20. Think of a childhood event that made you feel anxious or scared. Describe both the event itself and the feelings it stirred up.
21. Write about some sayings, expressions, or advice you heard at home when you were growing up. Who said them? What did they mean? Do you use any of those expressions today?
22. What are your happiest childhood memories? Describe one event and the feelings associated with it.

There are also memory jars where you put memories that are important to that person, be it a dried flower (of a wedding), a picture, ticket stubs, vacation memories,…

      

There seems to be another kind of memory jar I saw on Pinterest but it’s more you do it for your own family.  You put a jar with some paper and pens besides it and during the year everyone in the family fills in some memories… and you read the lot on New Year’s Eve… delightful!