Growing up the only child of a single mom I sometimes felt cheated. I wondered what other kids knew about their families.

The other boys always seem to know so much about their dad’s and had wonderful stories about the exploits of their dads when they were young. I had no stories.
You see, I loved hearing stories. During holidays my Uncle Wilbert would come down from NY and he would sit in the dining room and tell stories of growing up, life in the military, life in the city; he had a story for everything! My cousins Sam and Major would sit around and tell of exploits from their younger days, and although I know stories from my mom and grandmother, they were less exciting and relatable to me as a young boy.
That is when I’d feel the loneliness and yearn for a dad to tell me his stories. When a parent reads to their children it has great educational and emotional benefits. But so much more is gained when they tell their own stories of their past.
Research over the last 30 years or so reveals that when parents tell family stories to their children the children benefit in a host of ways. When moms and dads talk about everyday current and/or past events with their young children, their children tell richer, more complete narratives to other adults a few years later compared to children whose parents didn’t tell detailed stories.
“In the preteen years, children whose families collaboratively discuss everyday events and family history more often have higher self-esteem and stronger self-concepts. And adolescents with a stronger knowledge of family history have more robust identities, better coping skills, and lower rates of depression and anxiety. Family storytelling can help a child grow into a teen who feels connected to the important people in her life.”
So, the next time there is a family gathering, consider NOT putting all the kids at their own table. Let them sit at the “big” table and hear some stories.

For more please see the article; What Kids Learn From Hearing Family Stories by Elaine Reese at https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/12/what-kids-learn-from-hearing-family-stories/282075/