Children’s engagement and competence in personal recollection: Effects of parents’ reminiscing goals

Parents’ goal orientations in parent–child reminiscing were examined in this study, where 28 preschoolers (mean age = 46 months) experienced a standardized event. Dyads discussed the event that evening, with parents randomly assigned to either an “outcome-oriented” or a “process-oriented” condition. Outcome-oriented parents, who were told that children subsequently would be tested on event-related recall, were more controlling in these conversations compared with process-oriented parents, who were told that children’s personal perspective would be assessed. Parents did not differ in their provision of structure. Children were interviewed 2 weeks later. Autonomy support in the parent–child conversation predicted children’s engagement in the interview. Parental structure predicted children’s recall of details and the coherence of their memories. Effects of parental reminiscing styles for children’s memory and motivation to reminisce are discussed.