小小“龄”听者 Little Listener

In Chinese family structures, it is common to see three generations living together, especially with "migrant elders" who relocate from their familiar hometowns to the city to care for their grandchildren while their children are occupied with work. This change in the living environment often results in a narrowing social circle and technological exclusion, making their grandchildren the primary conversational partners.

Research indicates that, compared to their own children, elderly individuals frequently discuss the past with their grandchildren. Whether they are boasting about their youthful achievements to set an example or lamenting the passage of time when observing the interests and items of the younger generation, conversations between grandparents and grandchildren often interweave "past and present." We were curious about these dialogues about the past. When do these conversations occur? Is it during the bike ride home from school, or at bedtime? What topics are discussed? How do the children perceive these stories from their grandparents?

In a three-week workshop with twelve seventh-grade students, we assigned these young participants a task: to interview their elders and collect life stories and mementos during their daily conversations. As active participants in this task, we are keen to explore how the students' roles are manifested in the process of engaging their elders in life review dialogues.