THE MOMENTLOG FIELD GUIDE
Video Diary Prompts for Your Kids to Watch Someday
For a video diary your kids can watch someday, start with a detail only you can explain: who gave them a nickname, where a family object came from, or what Sunday breakfast sounded like when they were little.
Tell the story behind something familiar
Choose something your child might see for years without knowing its history. Try one of these openings: “The person who gave you that nickname was …”; “This chipped bowl came with us because …”; “If you could hear our kitchen on a Sunday morning, you’d hear …”. Pick one and tell the whole little story.
Speak to one listener
In Avatar: The Way of Water, Kiri can watch Grace’s old video logs. That prompted a fan to wonder what Jake’s children might learn from his recordings. For your own entry, try finishing this sentence: “Before you knew me as your parent, I spent my days …” Pick one detail your child would never guess.
Imagine your child watching as an adult. Name the people and the place instead of saying “you remember.” Leave room for your own voice: a laugh, a pause, or the part where you cannot quite remember who said it first.
Example entry
“You call that bowl the moon because of the chip in the rim. My dad used to beat eggs in it on Saturdays. I wonder what you’ll call it when you’re grown.”
Make sure they can find it later
Record the message, play it back, and keep a copy somewhere your family knows about. A clip saved on your phone cannot tell someone where to look for it. If the story is personal, decide who should have the copy and when you want to share it.