How Far Back Can Your Earliest Memories Go?

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the earliest memories participants can recall, with many contributors sharing vivid recollections from as young as one or two years old. Key memories include sitting on family members' laps, significant events like the first day of school, and interactions with siblings. Participants express uncertainty about the authenticity of some memories, suggesting that many may be influenced by family stories rather than direct recollections. The conversation highlights the variability in memory retention and the emotional significance of early experiences.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of childhood development and memory formation
  • Familiarity with psychological concepts related to memory recall
  • Knowledge of anecdotal evidence in personal storytelling
  • Awareness of the influence of familial narratives on memory perception
NEXT STEPS
  • Research childhood memory development stages
  • Explore psychological studies on memory distortion and reliability
  • Investigate the role of family narratives in shaping personal memories
  • Learn about techniques for enhancing memory recall in early childhood
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for psychologists, educators, parents, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of memory formation and retention during early childhood.

  • #31
I remember stuff from when I was slightly younger than 3 years...that was more than 15 years ago in 1989.
 
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  • #32
on of my earlist memories is of this elephant pool we had, a kiddie pool with an elephant head attatched that sprayed water out of its snout. i remember for years i remembered this pool fondly, and i even asked my mum about it once to see if it was real, but she couldn't remember. So, i just kept picturing this enormous kiddie pool, with a huge elephant that'd spray water, and i would stand under it and pretend to shower, and i'd dance, and it was such a cool pool...

then i found and old picture of me in my bathing suit when i was little... and lo' you could see just alittle bit of that old pool... sadly... it was much much MUCH smaller than i remembered... and the trunk was barely out of the water, there was no way i'd be able to stand under it... my memory was so distorted... sad...
 
  • #33
Smurf said:
I just hope other people's inability to consider me old carries through. Could prove quite useful with the ladies.

Nah, Smurfs usually end up doing the washing, :biggrin:
 
  • #34
Gale17 said:
on of my earlist memories is of this elephant pool we had, a kiddie pool with an elephant head attatched that sprayed water out of its snout. i remember for years i remembered this pool fondly, and i even asked my mum about it once to see if it was real, but she couldn't remember. So, i just kept picturing this enormous kiddie pool, with a huge elephant that'd spray water, and i would stand under it and pretend to shower, and i'd dance, and it was such a cool pool...

then i found and old picture of me in my bathing suit when i was little... and lo' you could see just alittle bit of that old pool... sadly... it was much much MUCH smaller than i remembered... and the trunk was barely out of the water, there was no way i'd be able to stand under it... my memory was so distorted... sad...

No not sad, kids have have big eyes. :biggrin:
 
  • #35
wolram said:
Wow zoobie, yours is the best so far, or was Ivans :confused:
Ivan posted something? I can't remember back that far.
 
  • #36
I remember being 2, and my brother taking me to pick berries with a little pail. Problem being, he was only 3 and we got lost in the big woods.
 
  • #37
I have some memories of pre-school, and a few very hazy memories prior to that. I had to be somewhere between 2 and 3, probably closer to 3, because they are of my sister as an infant/baby, and she's 21 mo younger than I am, but they are VERY vague, more like two photographs than memory of a full event.
 
  • #38
hypatia said:
I remember being 2, and my brother taking me to pick berries with a little pail. Problem being, he was only 3 and we got lost in the big woods.
Did you find the gingerbread house?
 
  • #39
wolram said:
I rang that number 1-800-722-7337. :blushing:
This does give me the opportunity to say something indecent about your mother, but I won't. o:)

I just realized I was 2 when we were in Tennessee (my mom was pregnant with my older sister).
 
  • #40
honestrosewater said:
I just realized I was 2 when we were in Tennessee (my mom was pregnant with my older sister).
You were 2 when your mom was pregnant with your older sister? I think you may need some fine-tuning on those older memories. :smile:
 
  • #41
Moonbear said:
You were 2 when your mom was pregnant with your older sister? I think you may need some fine-tuning on those older memories. :smile:
Yeah, I wanted to see if anyone would catch that. I don't have an older sister! Congratulations! For being the sharpest knife in the block, you've won* a fetching, rhinestone encrusted butterfly keychain/bottle opener. :biggrin:


*Must send $15 for shipping and handling in order to receive your prize.[/size]


Hm, maybe I put too much thought into that...
 
  • #42
honestrosewater said:
Yeah, I wanted to see if anyone would catch that. I don't have an older sister! Congratulations! For being the sharpest knife in the block, you've won* a fetching, rhinestone encrusted butterfly keychain/bottle opener. :biggrin:


*Must send $15 for shipping and handling in order to receive your prize.[/size]


Hm, maybe I put too much thought into that...
I just thought you were drunk again :smile:
 
  • #43
umm...she is?
 
  • #44
Did I ever tell you how much I love you, yomamma? You are your little
 
  • #45
honestrosewater said:
Yeah, I wanted to see if anyone would catch that. I don't have an older sister! Congratulations! For being the sharpest knife in the block, you've won* a fetching, rhinestone encrusted butterfly keychain/bottle opener. :biggrin:


*Must send $15 for shipping and handling in order to receive your prize.[/size]


Hm, maybe I put too much thought into that...
Ooh! I won! I won! I won! I never win anything!

Oh, wait, there's fine print. :frown: There's always fine print.
 
  • #46
Moonbear said:
Ooh! I won! I won! I won! I never win anything!

Oh, wait, there's fine print. :frown: There's always fine print.
Eh, you're not missing much. I'm not sure what it's encrusted with... looks kinda like green ear wax... oh that is so grooossss.
 
  • #47
My earliest memory begins with me playing with (this is hard for me to say) a doll at the top of the stairs. Let me just stress - we were poor. Couldn't afford toys. The doll was donated by a neighbour. It's not like I had a choice, okay! Being poor also put an end to ideas of having one of those little safety gate things for the stairs. I dropped the doll down the stairs and attempted to crawl after it. My mum was at the bottom of the stairs. I don't recall feeling any pain as I was bouncing down the stairs, but I do remember feeling distressed and was hurt that my mum didn't stop what was happening to me. When grilled, my mum recalled the incident and said I was about 1 and a half. She had nothing to say about me playing with a doll, though. Or the lack of safety procedures.
 
  • #48
I have lots of memories from around 3 years old. We lived in 4 different houses (plus a stay at a motel when we first moved to Akron) between my 3rd birthday and kindergarten. I just have a few snapshot memories before that.

The first place we lived in Akron was the upstairs of a farm house, which provided lots of memories... showing my baby chick that had been dyed blue to everyone until they were sick of it and finally resorting to showing it to the different animals on the farm; the cat seemed to enjoy it the most :cry: (my mom nearly died of a heart attack when I ran in the house screaming with my hand coated in blood) ... the fact that we were lucky to live at the top of a hill; my dad could push his car and pop the clutch to get it started every morning ... my dad slipping on the ice at the top of the stairs, dropping four cartons of pop bottles down the stairs, and tumbling down after them (that was impressive; falling down stairs littered with broken glass always is) ... sneaking down the stairs and sitting with the old woman downstairs while she played solitaire ... when the dog downstairs had puppies ... when my sister was born and I tipped over the basinet trying to sneak a peek at her.
 

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