ABSTRACT
Reading books with a parent helps children learn vocabulary and story formats while also advancing the challenging process of figuring out how all those squiggles relate to actual words and sentences, what has been called phonological awareness, the foundation of reading. Mother–child reminiscing provides another important context for children to learn literacy skills, including a command of more abstract vocabulary and how to tell a coherent story. In fact, reminiscing may comprise an especially important context for children for several reasons. First, when reminiscing about their own personal experiences, children are engaged and interested. Second, reminiscing helps children put experiences into coherent story form, teaching them what a good story entails. Finally, in mother–child reminiscing, children are learning to integrate their thoughts and feelings with what happens in the world, and with other people’s thoughts and feelings.
