Knowing what first cousins are is very important for build relationships within the familyTherefore, it is necessary to spend time explaining family ties to the smallest members of the house. In this way, children obtain various benefits, the first being the feeling of belonging. Feeling part of the same community, of an exclusive circle that shares something as unique as blood.
On the other hand, the carnal union, that which is felt naturally by people who are part of the same family. And finally, the opportunity to meet and create unique ties with the different kinships. Explain to your children what first cousins are, as well as the rest of the family relationship, will allow them to know and develop unique feelings.
First cousins, what are they?
Perhaps the easiest way to explain to children what first cousins are is to start at the beginning, creating a family tree in which to develop the different members. Thus, starting from maternal and paternal grandparents, the different relationships can be explained. From this first relationship, the rest of the people who make up a group are born. family, so grandparents are the fundamental pillars, from where everything starts.
Children are born from grandparents, brothers to each other and from them, their future children who will be born from the relationships they have in their adulthood. From this union, those who will be the grandchildren of the grandparents and the nephews of their other children, the parents' siblings, will be born. In summary, the children of each brother becomes a first cousin of the other children of the other siblings.
To make it easier to understand, there is nothing like making a scheme with names so that the child can understand it better. For example, grandparents María and José had two children, Mario and Josefa. Mario married Cristina and had two children, Ana and Felipe. His sister Josefa married Alfonso and had a daughter, Susana. Therefore, Ana and Felipe who are brothers, They are Susana's first cousins.
The parents of the cousins are very important, because they are uncles and in many families these figures become second parents. In time, the children of the uncles will also form their families and have children, who will become second cousins of oneself. A little complex for a small child, For this reason, it is important to resort to something more visual such as a family tree..
Create a family tree as an activity with the children
For a child, such a basic explanation can be quite a mess. So it will be more convenient to use visual tools that facilitate and simplify everything. Plan a weekend activity and turn the explanation of relationships into a family craft activity. And so, in addition to teaching children who their relatives are and what ties they share, you can have a great time doing crafts.
Get a large cardboard and colored markers. Also, if you can, photographs of all family members to make the explanation easier. While you explain the relationships, you can create drawings in the family tree, add the names of the family and if there is time, tell a little more about each of them. This is important, since children will most likely hardly know anything about their relatives.
If you can tell a little about each one, like where they were born, if they are from another city and why they emigrated. In addition to taking the opportunity to explain what it is to emigrate. All that information that is emerging becomes a great learning for children. Enjoy that family time and help your children understand how the family is formed and who are the members of theirs. So, you will have the opportunity to get to know these people better and your curiosity will grow to know more about them.