Keepsake gifts your family will treasure

Choosing holiday gifts for adult children and grandchildren can be a challenge, but some of the best presents might not even require a trip to the store. Consider passing along a bits of your family history with keepsake gifts that will strengthen family ties.

Here are some suggestions for gifts that younger relatives will treasure:

• Family photographs or movies. Choose some special family photos from years gone by, scan them and have copies made for framing or placing in an album. Or, dust off those old family movies recorded on Super 8 film or VCR tapes and have them transferred to DVDs. For a fun family trip down memory lane, show them at your holiday gathering.

• Family heirlooms. An heirloom is a special item that has belonged to a family for generations – perhaps a piece of jewelry, special Christmas ornament, vintage book, pocket watch or fishing reel. Choose something with sentimental value, and give it to a younger family member for safekeeping.

• Family recipes. Preserve tradition by passing along the recipes for your family’s favorite dishes. Simply gather favorite recipes and make copies of them, or write them on index cards and place them in a small photo album, recipe box or decorative tin. If there is a story that goes with the recipe – where it originated, when it was typically served, who enjoyed it the most – jot that down, too.

• Verbal memoirs. Create a recording of yourself sharing stories from your past. What were family holidays like when you were a child? How was the world different than it is today? What was your first job, and how much were you paid? In what ways might your life have turned out differently if cellphones and Internet were around when you were growing up? Share some memories of everyday life with younger relatives. Not only will they enjoy the stories, they’ll cherish the sound of your voice