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Family tree for kids

Two free printable worksheets, drawing ideas that work for any family shape, and a simple online builder for when the project needs to look neat.

My Family TreeGrandmaGrandpaGrandmaGrandpaMumDadMeMy sibling
Labelled worksheet — younger children write names under each label.
My Family TreeNameBorn – diedNameBorn – diedNameBorn – diedNameBorn – diedNameBorn – diedNameBorn – diedNameBorn – diedNameBorn – died
Blank worksheet — writing lines for names and dates.

Family tree drawing ideas

  • Handprint tree: trace the child’s arm and hand as the trunk and branches, and write a relative on each finger.
  • Leaf tags: cut leaves from coloured paper, one per person, and glue them onto a painted trunk — grandparents low, the child at the top.
  • Photo branches: print small photos and stick them on, or use the Photo wall template and add pictures in the builder.
  • Roots and branches: ancestors go in the roots, the child’s generation in the canopy — the Rooted oak template works this way.
  • A house, not a tree: some children prefer a house with a floor for each generation. It works just as well.

For teachers: making it work for every child

Not every child lives with two biological parents, and some don’t know their extended family. Offer a choice of formats: a “people I live with” tree, a “people who care for me” web, or a standard tree. Let children include step-parents, foster carers and close family friends, and never require names of absent parents.

Make it online

The family tree maker in Building blocks style lets children type names, add photos and print a tidy tree without drawing boxes by hand. It needs no email or account, so it is fine for the classroom.

Questions

What should a child’s family tree include?

For young children, three generations is plenty: the child and their siblings, parents, and grandparents. Older pupils can add great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

What if a child’s family isn’t a traditional two-parent family?

Let the child decide who belongs. The builder supports single parents, step-parents, same-sex parents, adoptive families and blended families; a partner line can be marked as married or partners, and anyone can be added as a parent.

How do I draw a family tree with kids?

Draw a trunk with branches, then put each generation on a level: grandparents low on the trunk or in the roots, parents on the main branches, the child and siblings at the top. Leaves, apples or handprints make good name tags.