Telling Tales Can be a Good Thing: Personal Stories Help Children Develop Emotional Skills, University of Central Florida and Emory University Study

A new study finds that mothers tell better, more emotional stories about past experiences which help children develop their emotional skills. The act of talking is not an area where ability is usually considered along gender lines. However, a new study published in Springer’s journal Sex Roles has found subtle differences between the sexes in their story-relating ability and specifically the act of reminiscing. The research by Widaad Zaman from the University of Central Florida and her colleague Robyn Fivush from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, discusses how these gender differences in parents can affect children’s emotional development.