Then vs Now Challenge

Recreate Old Family Photos

TWEENS (11 - 14 YEARS)

6/28/20262 min read

Vintage Canon FT QL film camera with black and white family beach photos on a rustic orange fabric background.

This is one of the funniest, most heartwarming activities in this entire collection. Find old family photos - baby photos, school photos, holiday snaps - and recreate them as accurately as possible. Same pose, same expression, same location if you can manage it.

The results are always hilarious. And always incredibly moving.

Why This Works

The Then vs Now Challenge creates an instant bridge between generations - and tweens absolutely love seeing their parents and grandparents as children. The laughter that comes from recreating awkward school photos or holiday snaps is the kind that brings a family together in the most genuine way. And the side-by-side photos become treasured keepsakes.

Activity Details

Age Group: Tweens 11–14

Time: 60–90 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

What You Need

Old family photographs
Camera or smartphone
Similar clothing to the original photos if possible
Same location as the original photo if possible
Photo editing app for side-by-side comparison (optional)

Steps

Dig out the old family photo albums together and choose 5–10 photos to recreate.
Study each photo carefully - note the pose, expression, clothing and location.
Gather any props or clothing needed to match the original as closely as possible.
Set up in the same location or closest equivalent.
Recreate the pose as accurately as possible - the more serious you are, the funnier the result!
Compare the original and the recreation side by side.
Create a photo book or print the pairs as a beautiful keepsake.