Learning lessons from family stories

Interesting column from Sue Shellenbarger in the Wall Street Journal about the significance of family stories in developing children’s character and providing a bank of life lessons to draw on.

"An Emory University study of 65 families with children ages 14 to 16 found kids' ability to retell parents' stories was linked to a lower rate of depression and anxiety and less acting-out of frustration or anger, says Robyn Fivush, a psychology professor. Knowing family stories "helps children put their own experience in perspective," Dr. Fivush says."

The parents in the article were universally surprised by the degree to which their children absorbed and identified with the old family stories.

Understanding the ups and downs and perseverance of your own family history has greater impact than a more general history. Certainly some of the value highlighted in this article includes the bonding that happens from the shared, repetitive retelling of the stories. But the narratives themselves offer the guidance. Increasing the breadth of people with an autobiography and depth of the individual's autobiography will increase the reservoir of family stories available to tap.