As a father of two young girls, I often contemplate what I can be doing better to help my children be happy and achieve their potential. This is not a new narrative; I’m sure most parents and grandparents throughout the history of the world have had similar thoughts. What may come as a surprise are the findings of recent research within the field of children’s psychology.
In a 2013 New York Times article, Bruce Feiler summarized a study about the resilience of children: “The more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem and the more successfully they believed their families functioned. [It] turned out to be the best single predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness…If you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family’s positive moments and your ability to bounce back from the difficult ones. That act alone may increase the odds that your family will thrive for many generations to come.”
Dr. Robyn Fivush, a renowned Professor of Psychology whose research Feiler referenced in his article, shared in a 2019 blog post: “Adolescents who know more family history show higher self-esteem, lower levels of behavior problems, such as withdrawal and aggression, higher sense of self-efficacy, and a more differentiated sense of self.”
Family history can sound daunting; perhaps you’re wondering how you can get your kids interested? Nembur is here to help! Visit our home page to get started.