Family Members' Memories about Starting School: Intergenerational Aspects. Issue 2 (June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Turunen, Tuija; Dockett, Sue
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal of early childhood. Volume 38:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2013-06
• Subjects: Early childhood education -- Periodicals; Child care services -- Periodicals; Early childhood education -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Child care services -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Child care services; Child development; Early childhood education; Australasia; Periodicals; 372.21
• DOI: 10.1177/183693911303800213
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1836-9391

Abstract

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED MEMORIES about starting school across several family generations, and the impact of these memories on parents' philosophies and actions when they were supporting their children during the transition to school. In this paper, we report the autobiographical narratives of two families and explore the ways in which the memories of school and starting school prompted both continuity and change in family decisions about education in general, and the transition to school in particular. The study draws on generational and interpretive perspectives in exploring autobiographical memories and oral history. Results reflect the concept of ambivalence, highlighting tensions between processes of reproduction and innovation across families. The implications of these tensions for children starting school are considered.