Simple Family Tree Planner: Track Generations with EaseBuilding a family tree can be a rewarding way to preserve your family’s history, connect generations, and create a keepsake for future relatives. A Simple Family Tree Planner helps you collect, organize, and display information clearly and attractively — without needing specialized genealogy software or deep research skills. This article walks you through choosing a planner format, gathering data, organizing relationships, designing the chart, and preserving the finished product.
Why use a Simple Family Tree Planner?
A planner narrows the task into manageable steps and keeps all your findings in one place. It helps you track people, dates, places, and relationships, and reduces the chance of losing or duplicating information. For families just starting out, a simple planner encourages participation from relatives and makes the process approachable for kids and adults alike.
Types of family tree planners
Choose the planner format that fits your goals and comfort level:
- Printable templates — ready-made sheets to fill by hand; great for beginners and children.
- Digital spreadsheets — use Excel or Google Sheets to tabulate names, birthdates, relationships, and sources.
- Diagramming tools — simple drawing apps or online chart makers to create visual trees without complex genealogy software.
- Hybrid planners — collect data digitally, print an interim draft, then refine by hand.
Printable templates are the most accessible; spreadsheets are best for sorting and filtering; diagramming tools produce the most polished visuals.
What information to include
A Simple Family Tree Planner focuses on essential facts that tell who belongs to the family and how they’re related:
- Full name (including maiden names where applicable)
- Dates: birth, marriage, death (at least years)
- Places: town/city and country for key events
- Relationship labels (parent, child, spouse)
- Sources or notes (where you found the information, e.g., “Letter from Aunt Mary, 1998”)
- Photos or simple icons (optional)
Keep it concise: you don’t need every detail to start. Names and dates are the core elements.
Step-by-step planning process
- Start with what you know: yourself, parents, siblings. Record full names, birth years, and places.
- Interview relatives: ask parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles for names, stories, and documents. Use a checklist to make interviews efficient.
- Gather documents: birth certificates, marriage licenses, obituaries, family Bibles, photos, immigration papers. Photograph or scan them.
- Enter data into your planner: whether a printed template or a spreadsheet, add each person with consistent formatting.
- Connect relationships: draw parent-child lines or use spreadsheet parent ID columns to link individuals.
- Verify and source: note where each fact came from and flag uncertain entries for later research.
- Design your chart: choose a layout (ancestor, descendant, fan chart) and place entries so relationships are clear.
- Share and refine: show relatives your draft, collect corrections, and update the planner.
Layout options and design tips
Common layouts:
- Ancestor chart — places one person at bottom and shows ancestors above; best for tracing lineage.
- Descendant chart — starts with a common ancestor and expands downward to show descendants; good for family reunions.
- Fan chart — circular display of ancestors around a central person; compact and attractive.
- Pedigree grid — tabular layout pairing parents and children in boxes for clarity.
Design tips:
- Use consistent name formats (First Middle Last).
- Abbreviate dates as YYYY for simplicity if exact dates are unknown.
- Limit each box to essential info: name, birth year, death year (if applicable).
- Use color-coding for different branches or generations.
- Keep lines and spacing clean to avoid clutter.
Using spreadsheets as a planner (quick guide)
A spreadsheet offers easy sorting and filtering. Suggested columns:
- ID (unique number for each person)
- Given Name(s)
- Surname
- Birth Year
- Death Year
- Birthplace
- Father ID
- Mother ID
- Notes / Source
Use filters to show a single branch or generation. Export to CSV to import into charting tools if needed.
Printable planner: what to include on each page
- Title and family surname at top.
- A short legend explaining abbreviations and color codes.
- One generation per page or one branch per sheet for large families.
- Space for photos, document references, and short anecdotes.
- A contact box with the person who supplied the information and the date collected.
Sample interview questions to ask relatives
- What are full names and nicknames used in the family?
- When and where were you born? Where did your parents/grandparents live?
- Do you have birth/marriage/death certificates, letters, or old photos?
- What stories, occupations, or migrations stand out in family history?
- Who else should I contact?
Record answers precisely and ask permission before sharing personal details.
Organizing and storing your research
- Create a folder structure (e.g., Documents/FamilyTree/Smith/Photos) and name files consistently (e.g., “Smith_John_birth1902.jpg”).
- Back up digitally in two places (external drive and cloud).
- Keep a research log noting where you searched, what you found, and next steps.
- For shared projects, use a collaborative platform (Google Drive, Dropbox) with clear versioning.
Preserving and sharing the finished planner
For physical copies, print on archival paper and store in a dry, cool place. Bind multiple pages or place them in a scrapbook for display. For digital copies, export a PDF and include source attachments. Consider creating a condensed, illustrated family history booklet for reunions or gifting to relatives.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Relying on a single memory — verify with documents where possible.
- Inconsistent name formats — choose one standard and apply it across the planner.
- Overloading boxes with details — keep boxes focused on essentials, move stories to notes.
- Not tracking sources — always record where information came from to resolve conflicts later.
Next steps and simple projects for beginners
- Create a 3-generation chart (you, parents, grandparents) as a first milestone.
- Make a “memory map” of where ancestors lived and why they moved.
- Assemble a photo timeline showing one ascendant per generation.
- Host a family story night to collect anecdotes and scan photos together.
A Simple Family Tree Planner turns a complex research task into approachable steps. Start small, document carefully, and share progress — the planner will grow into a valuable family legacy over time.