ReZoom

Gift certificates and iPods are great presents, but when you want to do more to preserve family history and pass on a bit of your legacy, consider one of the following offerings instead.When you want to give a gift that does more to preserve family history and sentiment, consider one of the following presents.

1. Life Lessons
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. wanted to offer guidance and advice to his son when he penned the now-familiar bestseller, "Life's Little Instruction Book," and gave it to his child before he left home for college. For a truly special gift, write down some of the wisdom you have gathered from a lifetime of mistakes and successes and pass it along to your child. Plus, even if you think he or she isn't willing to listen now, there will come a day when those thoughts and hopes are appreciated.

2. Home Theater
Another great way to celebrate your child and your family is with a video gift that documents how far you've all come and all that lies ahead. Take home movies that have been sitting around for a couple of decades or so and put them on DVD. Or, maybe you'd like to make a new video sharing how proud you are of your child and what you hope for her or him in the years to come. Either choice leaves a truly special legacy for your child.

3. A Piece of History
Passing down family heirlooms is a great way to share your family's history and celebrate its future. If you're thinking about giving an heirloom to your child, sit down and write the story of the piece to accompany the gift. You can explain who in the family has owned the heirloom, who they were and why you want your child to have it now. This provides you the opportunity to ensure that the family's past will be carried into the years ahead.

4. Arts & Crafts
Another great way to commemorate your family's accomplishments is with a quilt. Experts can probably go for a blanket that combines bits of baby clothes, wedding dresses and other significant wear, while novices might try something a bit simpler. If your child has an overflowing t-shirt collection, try picking out some of the most memorable of those shirts (souvenirs from family trips, sports team uniforms, etc.) and using the tees as the squares of the quilt. The resulting blanket and its memories will last a lot longer than those t-shirts would be if left to the whims of wear and tear.

5. Updated Albums
Considering all that is contained within them, it can be a little unnerving to hand over all of the family albums to a child – no matter what age that child is. Instead of worrying about scrapbooks and bulky albums, digitize the family photos and pass along a computer-friendly version to your child. He or she will have the family history close at hand, and you won't have to worry that the one picture of Aunt Marva smiling on her 80th birthday will end up on the wrong side of a gum wad.

6. Bon Voyage
For a truly memorable event, think about giving the entire family a vacation. Only, for this particular vacation, explore the family's legacy. Visit the land of your ancestors or the towns where your grandparents were born. Even attempting to recreate a favorite family trip or re-visiting a frequent destination from the younger days of the family is sure to bring back tons of memories.

7. Chow Down
For many families, pieces of the past are passed down through stories, photos and heirlooms- as well as food. Prepare a family cook book of the food preparations passed down from generation to generation as well as recipes for other family favorites and holiday staples for your child. Recipes are a great reminder of home and family history.

Here at ReZoom, we're exploring ways to leave behind a positive legacy. Click here to see the rest of our stories. Get inspired. It's never too late to create a legacy. More