Memories that persist
Some early memories are more likely than others to survive childhood amnesia, according to a professional at Memorial University of Newfoundland, named Carole Peterson. For instance, a memory carries that much emotion for a person who viewed their memory from childhood as meaningful, strong enough to remember.
Peterson showed that while studying children who were in a hospital emergency room when they were as young as 2 for injuries like a broken bone or a cut serious enough to require stitches. According to her, children have very good memories from their early childhood since these events struck them so emotionally, so hard.
Findings like that are persuading courts to allow more eyewitness testimony from children. In the past, courts thought children couldn’t tell the difference between fact and fantasy. But studies later have shown that they can, and how much they remember is pretty stunning. The key to using children as witnesses is to make sure they are questioned in a noncoercive way, as being careful not to put words in their mouths is crucial.
Summary
Children remember memories from their early childhood because such experiences are closely tied to strong emotions, learning, and development. During early childhood, the brain is rapidly growing and forming connections, making new experiences more impactful and easier to remember for children. Events like family matters, play, first achievements, or strong feelings are especially memorable as their memories of childhood are important to them. Repetition, storytelling, and reminders from others also help reinforce these memories, allowing them to stay vivid as children grow older.