WHY IT MATTERS

Helping children develop self-awareness from an early age is helpful for memory development.

Research has demonstrated that very young children can recall memories with specific details. However, there must be a developed sense of self and personal identity for declarative memories to become autobiographical, or rather, part of the child’s life story and real to them. Having a sense of self, the “I” separate from others, gives a place for memory to be organised and develop personal meaning.

Once the sense of self is established, children are more likely to remember information related to themselves. This is known as the “self-reference effect” on memory, and it emerges early on. It occurs because items linked with the self, such as “my teddy”, attract additional attention and memory support within the brain, ensuring that potential use to the self is not lost.