family stories



How (and Why!) We Collect Your Stories


These days, parents and kids get plenty of advice. Experts weigh in on everything from eating habits to making friends. Now there's a resource for (and from) families about the subjects and topics that matter most to them. FamilyStories empowers kids, parents and grandparents (and aunts and uncles, teachers, neighbors...) with tools to enhance the way we share life together. All together, we have so much experience, knowledge and creativity to share.

At FamilyStories, we listen for questions and topics that keep coming up in the lives of families. Some are part of everyday life, like getting kids to sleep or homework habits. Others are major events, like divorce or an illness in the family. What do these things have in common? Each benefits from a sense of connection—learning how other families have experienced these moments, handled the tough times and celebrated the joys.

And once we collect the questions, we get to work gathering not just answers but stories—literally thousands of them from people young and old, all over the country and sometimes all over the world.

It starts with listening very carefully to what families say, recording and archiving these stories and ideas. One story at a time, we are building a huge resource of ideas, thoughts, suggestions and activities.

"We receive stories from many sources," says Mary Bonner, Editorial Director at FamilyStories. "The website is critical for story gathering. It's simple to use by clicking on Tell Us Your Stories. We also get stories, ideas and artwork by mail and at organized workshops with families at schools, homes or community organizations. It's amazing when you tell someone about FamilyStories - they will immediately have a story to share with you! The excitement and pride family members have for one another is ignited and wonderfully contagious."