What is life story work and why is it important?
Life story work in adoption and fostering
Life story work helps children separated from their birth families make sense of their past experiences from birth. Some children may be too young to remember or understand what has happened in their lives. Children in care often experience many changes of social workers and carers and, as a result, information about their past and heritage may be missing, lost or forgotten.
A life story 'book' is usually prepared with the child by a social worker, foster carer and/or adoptive parent or permanent foster carer. The book includes the recording of significant information and events for a child to refer to when they are older or as they grow up, such as a description of their birth family, where they were born, significant people in their lives, and their care history.
Life story work can take the form of a book, scrapbook, photo album, interactive CD or collection of personal items, such as a hospital bracelet, first teddy bear, or drawings that date back to the child’s time with their birth or foster family.
It is important for children to have a record of significant people, places and events in their life. Every child needs to have a sense of identity and of their origins so they can understand the person they are. The life story book belongs to the child but is usually given to the adoptive parents or permanent foster carers, so they can share the information sensitively with the child, when age appropriate, as some information may be painful or difficult to understand. Some children may choose to refer to their life story book regularly; others less often, or hardly ever.
There is lots more information on this topic throughout our website! Why not...?
- Read our real-life features on life story work, such as 'Life story support', 'Building a sense of self' and 'Who am I?'
- Look at our definition of life story work, and other common terms in adoption and fostering, in our glossary
- Buy our BAAF booklet on life story work and what it means
Last updated: 27 April 10
