Reelic Guide
50 Questions to Ask Your Grandparents Before It’s Too Late
You see them every week, or every year, or every few years. You talk about the weather, the kids, what’s for dinner. But you’ve never asked the questions that matter. Here are 50 of them.
Questions about their early life
Where did you grow up, and what was the house like? What’s your earliest memory? What did your parents do for work? What did you want to be when you were young? What was school like for you? What’s the biggest difference between your childhood and mine? Did your family have money, or was it tight? What did you do for fun as a teenager?
Questions about love and family
How did you meet grandma/grandpa? What was your wedding day like? What were the early years of your marriage like? What’s the hardest thing you’ve been through together? What’s the best advice you’d give about marriage? What were my parents like as children? What’s a story about our family that most people don’t know?
Questions about work and the world
What was your first job? What are you most proud of in your career? What was the biggest world event you lived through, and how did it affect you? Did you ever have to start over? What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in your lifetime? What do you wish you’d done differently?
Questions about identity and legacy
What do you think our family is known for? What values did your parents pass to you? What do you hope I remember about you? Is there anything you’ve never told anyone? What’s the story of our family name? What would you want your great-grandchildren to know about you?
What to do with the answers
Record them. Write them down. And if you want to turn the stories and the photos into something lasting, that’s exactly what Reelic does — a cinematic film built from your family’s photos and the stories behind them. Ten minutes. Under an hour. A film that preserves what a conversation started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best questions to ask grandparents?
Start with their earliest memories and childhood, then move to love and family, then work and world events, then identity and legacy. The best questions are specific (“What was your house like?”) rather than broad (“Tell me about your life”).
How do I record my grandparents’ stories?
Use your phone to record audio or video. Keep it casual — sit at the kitchen table, not in front of a camera. Ask one question at a time and let them talk. You can also turn the stories into a lasting film with Reelic.
What if my grandparents don’t want to be interviewed?
Start with easy, fun questions: “What was your first car?” “What did you eat for dinner as a kid?” Most people warm up once they realise you’re genuinely interested. Don’t call it an interview — call it a conversation.
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