Family stories affect children’s development

Researchers are putting family stories under the microscope as they seek to find out how they shape a child’s development.

They’re finding that having a shared sense of family history is linked to children’s self-esteem and resiliency.

They’ve also found that happy stories aren’t as effective as sad or difficult stories but where a relative pulls through a situation.

Kids who knew their family history had higher self-esteem and fewer emotional problems, such as depression. The children seem to gain a sense of self in relation to other family members and to the past, building confidence. “Families who tell family stories have kids who are doing better,” says Robyn Fivush, an Emory psychology professor.

Stories of relatives’ suffering, leading eventually to growth or success, may be helpful, according to a study of 74 middle-aged people by Dan P. McAdams, a psychology professor at Northwestern University. He found that adults who were the most nurturing and supportive of younger generations, based on tests completed by each subject, were five times more likely to tell stories of suffering leading to expansion or growth, compared with adults who were less nurturing.

So, it looks like the happy-ever-after fairy stories should be moderated, in favour of the reality of family history.

Read the full article: Family hard-luck stories can help kids