Questions to ask your family for a Legacy Video

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A few years ago, My husband and his friend got asked to film a Legacy Video. We never heard about this until we started doing some research.

What is a legacy video?

It is an interview you do with your parents or grand parents. They can be awkward to your family to do but TRUST me you will never regret the work you put into them. You can hire a professional to film one for you or if you are tech savvy and know how to edit you can make one for yourself or for a friend.

Here is how you can make one yourself. Ask your family member to sit down and put your camera on a tripod, it can be your cell phone or a professional camera. We like to get different angle so you can have one zoomed in, another camera zoomed out, and then a camera on two people. It makes it easer to edit. but it you want to make it simple, just do one camera.

I would then make your list of questions and a few days or weeks before you interview them. Let them look at the questions so they can think about what they are going to say.

The best thing to do is to let the conversation go as normal.

Don’t talk when they are talking.

Have them to answer the question with the question in the answer. For example: “What is your name?” instead of saying “Sarah” I would say “ My name is Sarah” another example would be "What do you remember most about your childhood" you don't say playing with Jane you would need to say " I remember most about my childhood is playing with Jane"

Or another example would be “What is your favorite memory of your kids?” I would need to answer “ My favorite memory of my kids is when…” You don’t want them to answer “taking them swimming” It makes editing easier and the person watching it understanding what they are talking about BUT if you have someone who can’t seem to remember to do that. I like to put up a blank slide with the question and then cut to the person answering the quesion.

Making these videos is a precious gift you can give to your spouse, kids, aunts or uncles. You can even interview your kids each year with a list of questions and watch how their answers change over the years.

Here is a list of questions we used when we made our legacy video for both our parents. This can give you ideas for your own family. Dig more into your questions if the moment feels right. Ask for photos and you can even add that into the answer part of the video.

This is just always so special to watch back because you can hear them telling their story and see them.

Here are some question ideas to get you started....

What is your full name and why were you named that? (Include maiden name for women.)
Did you have a nickname when you were growing up? If so, what was it and why were called that?
When and where were you born?
In what other homes/places have you lived?
What were your earliest memories of your home?
Could you tell me a story or any memory of your brothers and sisters?
What did your family do for fun when you were a child?
Was there a chore you really hated doing as a child?
What were your favorite toys and what were they like?
Were there any fads during your youth that you remember vividly?
What school activities and sports did you participate in?
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Who were your childhood friends?
What was your favorite holiday tradition as a kid?
Did you have any pets growing up?
What was your first job?
How old were you when you started dating?
Do you remember your first date? Could you tell me something about it?
When, where and how did you first meet your present spouse?
Do you remember where you went on the first date with your spouse?
How long did you know him/her before you got married?
Describe your wedding proposal.
Where and when did you get married? (Include date, place, church, etc.)
Describe your wedding ceremony.
Who was there? Were there a best man, a bridesmaid, other wedding party members and who were they?
Did you have a honeymoon? Where did you go?
How would you describe your spouse(s)?
What do (did) you admire most about them?
How long have you been or were you married?
When and where did your spouse die?
What advice would you give/did you give to your child or grandchild on his/her wedding day?
How did you find out you were going to be a parent for the first time?
How many children did you have all together?
What were their names, birth dates and birthplaces?
Why did you give them the names that you did?
Do you remember anything your children did when they were small that really amazed you?
What is one of the most unusual things one of your children did regularly when they were small?
What was the funniest thing you can remember that one of your children said or did?
If you had to do it all over again, would you change the way you raised your family?
What did you find most difficult about raising children?
What did you find most rewarding about being a parent?
Did you spoil any of your children?
Were you strict or lenient as a parent?
Did you find you had to treat each of your children differently? If so, why?
How did you feel when the first of your children went to school for the first time?
How did you first hear that you were a grandparent and how did you feel about it?
What advice do you have for your children and grandchildren about being a parent?
Where did your spouse's parents live?
When and where did your parent's pass away? What do you remember about it?
How did they pass?
What do you remember about the death of your parents?
Do you remember hearing your grandparents describe their lives? What did they say?
Do you remember your great-grandparents?
What would you consider the most important inventions during your lifetime?
Do you remember the first time you saw a television; a car; a refrigerator?
How is the world different from what it was like when you were a child?
Do you remember your family discussing world events and politics?
Name a good friend you have known the longest. How many years have you been friends?
Has there ever been anyone in your life you would consider a kindred spirit or soul mate? Who was he/she and why did you feel a special bond with him/her?
What were the hardest choices you ever had to make?
What person really changed the course of your life by something he/she did?
How would you describe your sense of humor?
What is the funniest practical joke you ever played on someone?
What activities have you especially enjoyed as an adult?
What are your hobbies?
Have you ever met any famous people?
Who were your parents? Please give full names.
Who were your grandparents? Please give full names.
Where were they from?
Describe a time and a place you remember feeling truly at peace and happy to be alive. Where were you and what were you doing?
What has been your favorite vacation? Where did you go and why was it special?
What was the favorite place you ever visited and what was it like?
What pets have you had? Do you have a favorite story about a pet?
Is there anything you have always wanted to do but haven't?

The Importance of Filming a Legacy Video of Your Parents

In today’s fast-paced world, memories can easily fade over time. But one way to preserve the stories, wisdom, and cherished moments of the people you love is by filming a legacy video of your parents. These videos offer a timeless way to capture the essence of your family history, provide valuable insights into your parents' lives, and create something your children (and future generations) will treasure for years to come.

Why You Should Film a Legacy Video of Your Parents

Preserve Family History

A legacy video is an invaluable way to preserve your parents' stories for future generations. As the years go by, the details of their childhood, upbringing, and family dynamics may be lost unless they are captured in some way. Filming a legacy video allows you to record the moments, stories, and experiences they lived through.

Strengthen Your Bond

Filming your parents talking about their lives can deepen your relationship with them. Hearing them reflect on their past can open up new conversations and allow you to understand them better—not just as parents, but as individuals with rich personal histories.

Pass Down Family Values

A legacy video provides an opportunity for your parents to share their values, life lessons, and advice. This is something that can be passed down to younger generations, ensuring that the wisdom and teachings of your family live on.

Create Something Timeless

Written memoirs are valuable, but videos bring an additional layer of emotion. Your parents' expressions, voice, and personality are captured in a way that makes the story more vivid. Over time, the video will become a cherished heirloom that preserves their legacy in a dynamic and heartfelt way.

Leave Behind a Lasting Impact

Not only can this video help future generations understand who your parents were, but it can also serve as a gift to them—a lasting memory that helps them feel connected to their grandparents, even if they never had the chance to meet.

Here are some more questions you can ask...

What games did you play as a child?
Did you have a favorite toy or possession growing up?
What did your childhood home look like?
How did you spend your summers?
What kind of music did you listen to as a child?
What was your favorite book when you were little?
What chores did you have to do as a child?
Did you ever get in trouble? What for?
What was your favorite subject in school?
Did you ever have a teacher who had a big impact on you?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
How did you celebrate your birthday as a child?
What was your favorite thing to do on weekends?
Were you allowed to watch TV? What was your favorite show?
What was your family’s routine like on a typical day?
How did you get to school?
What was the weather like in your hometown?
Did you ever get lost or have a scary experience as a child?
How did you feel about your childhood home when you left for the first time?
What was your favorite childhood memory with your family?
Did you ever experience a life-changing event as a child?
Did your parents ever take you on family vacations? Where did you go?
Did you have any family heirlooms that were passed down to you?
What lessons did you learn growing up that have stuck with you?*
What were your parents like when you were growing up?
What was the best piece of advice your parents gave you?
How did your parents meet?
Did your parents have any special traditions or rituals?
What did you most admire about your mother?
What did you most admire about your father?
What was your mother’s personality like?
How did your father make you feel safe and loved?
Did your parents have any funny habits or quirks?
How did your parents discipline you?
Did your parents show affection openly, or was it more reserved?
What was your mother’s cooking like? Did you have a favorite dish?
Did your father tell stories? What kinds of stories?
What did your mother do for work?
What did your father do for work?
What were family dinners like in your house?
How did your parents celebrate holidays and birthdays?
Did you have any family heirlooms or keepsakes from your parents?
What was the best gift your parents ever gave you?
What do you think your parents would have thought of the world today?
Did you ever argue with your parents? How did you resolve it?
What was your parents’ relationship like with each other?
How did your parents handle financial challenges?
How did your parents support your dreams and ambitions?
Did your parents teach you any life skills that you use today?
Did you have a family pet growing up? Who took care of it?
Did your parents have any hobbies or activities they enjoyed doing together?
What did your parents value most in life?
What was a fun memory you have with your parents?
How did your parents react when you started to grow up and become more independent?
What were you like as a teenager?
How did you spend your high school summers?
Did you have a first love? What was that like?
What was your first job? How much did you earn?
What was your dream car when you were a teenager?
Who was your favorite musician or band as a teen?
Did you ever skip school or break the rules?
Where did you go to college or work after high school?
How did you meet Mom/Dad (your other parent)?
What was your first apartment or home like?
What was your first car, and how did you get it?
Did you travel as a young adult? Where did you go?
What were the biggest challenges you faced in your twenties?
What advice would you give your younger self?
How did you feel the first time you became a parent?

When filming your legacy video, don’t be afraid to pause and let your parents take their time answering. Some questions may bring up unexpected emotions or memories, and that’s okay. The goal is to create a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing their truth.

These stories, answers, and reflections can create a deeply meaningful video—a keepsake that will be treasured for generations to come. So, take the time to sit down with your parents, ask the questions, and create a lasting legacy that can be passed on through time.

Have you filmed a legacy video with your parents? What questions did you ask? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments!