Family History Products Home: Family Stories
New Study: Family Stories Are Very Important
To The Development of Kids
The Ability to Retell Them is Key!
Does knowing ones heritage effect the way that he or
she lives their life?
In most cases, I think the answer is yes.
I have long believed that knowledge of ones heritage,
ancestors and family stories changes the way that a
person feels about themselves and can change the way
that they live their life.
Emory University concluded in a recent study of children ages
14-16 in total 65 families.
It concluded that a child's ability to retell family stories was linked
to lower instances of depression, anxiety and less acting out due to
frustration and anger.
Even though it may seem that kids aren't listening, you can be pretty
sure that they are. You might be surprised at how much they hear
and internalize.
It most likely won't be until a real-life situation occurs that they
will be able to relate the stories to their own lives. That is when you'll see the evidence
that they were listening.
For example, stories of family struggles during the Great Depression, might
make "belt tightening" during our economic downturn easier to muster.
Family Stories Teach Lessons
Like Nothing Else Can
There are many reason to keep journals and write family histories,
but one of the most important reasons is that we need our kids
to know what they are made of...and from whom they've descended.
Stories of hardship, triumph, lessons learned and morals, in general,
are conveyed.
It's just that some families do it better than others (Read Flunking Family History).
It certainly helps me to hear of stories of my grandparents and
great-grandparents. To know of their struggles and lessons learned
positively effect my life today.
It helps put my life in perspective and usually reminds me that
I don't have things that bad...in comparison.
Sharing Family History With Our Kids
This study was a wake up call for me. I need to take every
opportunity to share family stories with my kids. It is far too easy to
be lazy. And yes, I am speaking from experience.
It is vitally important that we, as parents and grandparents,
do all we can to share and preserve the family stories that have been
passed down to us. Then add to them, with our own autobiographical
contribution.
Then ensure that it is preserved in such a way that its longevity
lasts far beyond our own lifetimes.
My challenge to you is to become your family's historian.
Preserve the family stories and photos that will mean so much
in the years to come. Document daily life in a journal. Keep
a record of your young children's lives, too, in that journal.
Become the glue between the generations that came
before you and the generations that will come after.
Michael Boyter
Recommended Resources...
Have a fun time of storytelling with your kids with the Lifepac curriculum.
Family Money Values - Helping families maintain and build family legacy, culture and wealth for generations
Ideas for Preserving Family Stories:
Some of the Easiest Ways to Share Stories Are...
- At the dinner table
- Put written stories in Christmas gifts to older children
- Have photos of ancestors in your home...to spark conversation
- When life situations spark a memory....tell the story. Don't put it off and lose the moment.
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