Interactive memorization techniques can be practiced at home. There is certain information immediate family members should know about one another in case someone is sick or lost. This information can include family medical history and social security numbers. This is where interactive memorization methods can be applied.
Let’s use family medical history as an example. Medical history includes knowing your family members’ cause and age of death, health problems, allergies, birth defects etc. Knowing your family’s medical history can be a lot to remember because you need to know your grandparents’ histories on both your mother’s and father’s sides.
One way to remember this is by talking with one another and drawing a group Family Medical History Tree. You remember items better when you draw them rather than write. You use the left side of your brain when you draw pictures and the right side when you write. So, let’s incorporate both in this activity!
- Ensure you have family medical histories of grandparents, mother, father, and children.
- Set up a family meeting.
- Tell your family you all will create a Family Medical History Tree.
- Get a big piece of paper such as flip chart paper or craft paper.
- As a family, draw the tree with relatives’ names and pictures if possible.
- Under each relative’s name write the following…
- Member’s cause of death (if applicable)
- Member’s age of death (if applicable)
- Diagnoses or health problems
- Allergies
- Birth defects
- If you have a young child, he/she can decorate the tree.
- Put the tree in a safe place.
- Have family members look at the tree repeatedly so it can be ingrained in their minds (repetition)
- Review it during family meetings.
- Ensure each family member knows where this tree is located so they can review it when they like.
