Benchmarking the past: Children's early memories and maternal reminiscing as a function of family structure

• Children's earliest memories from non-nuclear and nuclear families are compared.
• Children's memories from non-nuclear families were earlier than their counterparts.
• Mother–child reminiscing was compared for non-nuclear and nuclear families.
• Mothers from non-nuclear families had shorter and less elaborative conversations.
• Transition and social–cultural theories of memory are discussed.

The present research explores the role of family structure and maternal reminiscing in childhood amnesia in middle childhood (age 7–11 years). Children from non-nuclear (solo parent, blended, extended; n = 13) or nuclear families (two biological parents; n = 13) were interviewed about their two earliest memories; they also reminisced with their mothers about shared past events. Children from non-nuclear families had earlier memories than children from nuclear families. Mothers from non-nuclear families generated shorter and less elaborative reminiscing conversations with their children than did mothers from nuclear families. For children from non-nuclear families, the number of extra adults in their household was correlated with earlier memories. Results are discussed with respect to both transition and social–cultural theories of memory development.