What are good questions to ask grandparents at Thanksgiving?

Start concrete and sensory: what Thanksgiving looked like when they were young, a dish their mother made, their first job. Then move to how they met their spouse, the hardest year they lived through, and what advice they would give themselves at your age. Four or five questions, asked after the meal, is plenty.

How do I get my grandparents to open up?

Ask one person at a time, after dinner, with a specific question rather than "tell me about your life." Bring an old photo if you can. Then wait: the best part of an answer usually comes after a pause you will be tempted to fill.

Should I record my grandparents telling stories?

Yes, and tell them you are doing it. A phone voice memo on the table is enough. The details fade within weeks, and the thing families miss most later is the voice itself.

How many questions should I ask?

Pick five. Forty is a menu to choose from, not a checklist. One good question followed by "what happened next?" beats ten in a row.

What if my grandparents live far away?

Ask by phone or video call, or send one question at a time by email or text and let them answer when they feel like it. That weekly-question rhythm is exactly what Story Grove automates, with voice answers transcribed and kept.

40 questions to ask your grandparents this Thanksgiving