51 Best Questions to Ask Family Members

Family is one of the most important pillars in our lives. Asking these questions can strengthen bonds, improve understanding of them as a person, and create lasting memories. Whether you're hosting a family gathering or simply looking to connect on a deeper level, here are 51 thought-provoking questions to ask your family members. Before you scroll to the tips, quickly read my 3 tips that will help you.

3 Quick Tips for Asking Questions:

1. Show that you're interested: If you show you're interested, they'll have more fun. If they're hesitant, here are some tips to convince them it's worth it.
2. Follow the Flow of the Conversation: While having prepared questions is good, be very flexible. Let the conversation flow naturally. Follow up on intriguing details or stories that emerge. Those are usually the best ones.
3. Respect Their Boundaries: Be sensitive to topics that may be difficult to discuss. Sometimes your family members may want to discuss them, sometimes they won't. If they don't, reassure them and move on. 

Here are more tips if you're interested.

 

We've helped thousands of people capture their stories through questions, so we like to think we know a thing or two about what makes a great question.
These questions are in no particular order and I encourage you to skip any that don't apply or that you or your family member are not interested in.

(Scroll to the end to see a free way to record their responses)

Questions about Childhood

1. What is your earliest memory?
2. Describe a typical family meal during your childhood.
3. What traditions or rituals did your family follow?
4. Who were you closest to in your family growing up?
5. What did you do for fun as a child?
6. How did your family celebrate holidays or special occasions?
7. What chores or responsibilities did you have as a child?
8. What was the neighborhood you grew up in like?
9. What was a typical day like for you during your childhood?
10. How did your childhood environment shape your personality?
11. What were some of your favorite places to visit with your family when you were young?
12. How did your family handle difficult times or challenges during your childhood?

Questions about School

13. What was your favorite subject in school, and why?
14. What challenges did you face in school?
15. How did you get to and from school?
16. What was an important lesson you learned during your school years?
17. What kind of student were you? Did you enjoy school?
18. What were your relationships with your classmates like?
19. How did your school experiences influence your future career choices?
20. What was a memorable school event or trip?
21. How did you manage the pressure or stress of schoolwork?

Questions about Relationships & Marriage

22. How did you meet your spouse/partner?
23. What was your wedding day like?
24. What have been some of the joys and challenges of marriage?
25. How did you and your spouse navigate tough times?
26. What advice would you give about building a strong relationship?
27. How did you know your partner was the right one for you?
28. What are some of the important qualities in a partner?
29. How did you and your partner keep the romance alive?
30. How have your views on relationships changed over the years?
31. What role did your family play in your relationship or marriage?
32. How did your relationship evolve over time?
33. What is a favorite memory from your early days of dating?

Questions about Work

34. What was your first job, and how did you feel about it?
35. What were some rewarding parts of your work?
36. How did your work impact your personal life?
37. What career advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
38. What were some of your career achievements?
39. How did you balance work and family life?
40. Did you ever consider changing careers? Why or why not?
41. What was a significant challenge you faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
42. How did your career path influence your identity or sense of self?
43. What was a proud moment in your professional life?
44. How did you decide on your career path?

Questions about Hobbies & Interests

45. What hobbies or interests have been a constant in your life?
46. How did you get started in your favorite hobby?
47. What did you enjoy about your favorite pastime?
48. How have your hobbies influenced your friendships or social life?
49. What new hobbies or skills have you picked up later in life?
50. What hobby or interest would you like to explore more in the future?

Bonus Question

51. Is there anything you’ve never shared that you’d like to talk about?

 

Engaging with these questions (or these ones about happiness, or these ones specific to grandparents) will help you connect on a deeper level. Here are questions
You're doing a wonderful thing. So grab a cup of tea (or coffee in my case), sit down with your loved ones, and start the dialogue! 

 

What to do with the Questions and Answers after you ask:
Instead of asking and letting their responses be forgotten, I strongly encourage you to use My Stories Matter to preserve them. It's free. You can record their voice. You can make a book out of their responses and they'll love you for it.

...and we have even more questions that you can ask them.