Shared Family Memory

Definition

Shared Family Memory is the systematic study and design of conditions, interventions and safeguards affecting children or families within family systems.

Why this matters

Children have evolving capabilities and limited power over many systems affecting them. Errors in shared family memory can create developmental, relational, educational, health or safety consequences that persist.

Research questions

How can families preserve meaningful memories while respecting consent, differing perspectives and future control?

Hypotheses

Multi-perspective memory records with revocable sharing will increase value and reduce ownership conflict.

Proposed methods

family systems mapping, household ethnography, coordination-task analysis, participatory co-design, service-journey mapping and longitudinal outcome tracking; adapted specifically to Shared Family Memory; child-appropriate participatory methods; caregiver and practitioner input; age-stratified analysis; validated developmental measures; service-pathway testing; safeguarding review; delayed or longitudinal follow-up; implementation-fidelity assessment

Stakeholders and beneficiaries

family members; carers; social workers; clinicians; schools; legal advisers; community services; employers; shared family memory specialists; lived-experience family advisory panel; independent child-rights reviewer