A new study into childhood memories has highlighted the benefit and influence early years activities can have on adults' day-to-day lives, including stress levels and decision making.

The research showed that recalling happy childhood memories can help people cheer up when they're feeling down, relax when they're stressed and generally feel more optimistic and energised.

It was also revealed that some of the nation's happiest childhood memories directly link to holidays and family trips. Activities such as spending time in the swimming pool, making a holiday friend, building sandcastles and long hot summer days all feature in the top ten of Brits' happiest childhood memories.

Now, in response to these findings, beach holiday specialists On the Beach, has collaborated with Peter Kinderman, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool and honorary consultant clinical psychologist with the NHS, who has provided insight into how memories are constructed - and advice which may help people remember life's best holiday moments more clearly.

Professor Peter Kinderman commented on how happy childhood memories are constructed and stored as we enter adulthood, and how our early memories are used to help us navigate the world in future. He said: “Philosophers and psychologists agree that we are what we remember - our self concept, our understanding of ourselves, of other people and the way the world works all depend on our memories.

“Our sense of who we are and our capacity to be happy and fulfilled is hugely dependent on our memories. In mental health, traumatic and unpleasant memories from childhood and the ways in which we get on with our parents are supremely important in determining our mood.

“It's also true that memories, including folklore type memories, and these days films, books and great literature, are all important in terms of giving us tactics for solving problems in our lives. If our kids are scared on the first day of new school, we say; “do you remember when you joined Brownies, you didn't like Brownies on the first day, were you scared?” And they say “yes”, and you say, “well you're scared of going to school, it's just like Brownies…” Of course, kids are kids, so it never really goes according to plan, but the point is that we learn how to navigate the world using our memories.

“We construct our memories and they are not an exact reflection of reality. Memories aren't like films, they are more like a cartoon that you redraw every time that you recall something. We're constructing memories all the time, so kids will build a picture of childhood and a picture of their parents and a picture of what their summer holidays were all about.

“We are constantly building up this picture of who we are and weaving experiences into the story of our life. One experience of eating calamari on holiday won't necessarily add one percentage point to your happiness, but the overall experience may have all the elements of creating a happy memory: the eating of calamari, the laughing of the juggler, and the fact that the sun didn't set until 10pm, and the fact that your parents were relaxed, and it was during that holiday that you kissed a boy for the first time… those things you weave into the story of your life, and that's how memories work.”

Dr Kinderman's comments on multi-sensory experiences and how they aid memory provide valuable insight into how memories are constructed and consolidated, and Peter has recommended a meditation tip which may help us to remember special moments more clearly.

The 5-4-3-2-1 meditation method is a popular practice which helps people ground themselves in a moment. The method is traditionally used by anxiety sufferers as it is a way of regaining control over thoughts, but Peter says parents can use it to help keep precious family memories fresh in their minds.

The method recommends focusing on five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can feel, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.

By using all the senses to savour a moment, Peter says it is more likely to stay in the memory.

Peter said: “When it comes to memories, multi-sensory experiences are more likely to stay in the mind, so a moment that triggers all the senses is more likely to be remembered and consolidated.

“The 5-4-3-2-1 method is one approach we could use. It doesn't have to be a formal thing, we can just help kids (and ourselves) become more aware of and engaged in the world.

“For example if you are on holiday, you could say to your child: “Isn't this nice? Wearing your favourite dress and watching the sun go down while the waves lap the sand on the beach. And can you hear those birds singing and the crickets in the background?” Or: “look at that juggler over there, and can you feel the sand underneath your toes and that lovely cool breeze?”

“If you want to hang on to those wonderful childhood memories of your children, and if you want your children to also retain those memories so that they can incorporate them into a story about their life and childhood, then doing this method is a great way of doing so.”

Alan Harding, Marketing Director at On the Beach said: “Our Childhood Memories campaign is all about looking back on those special moments that really define who we are and help write the story of our lives.

“We commissioned this research because we wanted to ask Brits about the experiences that mean the most to them, and the results show that our early memories really are important when it comes to our growth into adults.

“It was heartwarming to see how many people enjoy looking back on their happiest memories, and that so many of these happy moments revolve around the family holidays they took as children.   

“As a company we hope we can play a part in forming those special memories that stay in the hearts of the nation, so insight from Professor Kinderman is incredibly helpful for our brand to appreciate the important role we have to play in setting the scene for those moments to take place.

“We would like to thank Professor Kinderman for teaching us how the 5-4-3-2-1 method can be used to consolidate memories, and we can't wait to try it out ourselves!”

How to use the 5-4-3-2-1 method to consolidate happy memories with your children

• When out with your family, pick a moment that you would like your child to remember
• Point out five things you can see, for example the sun setting, a street entertainer, an item of clothing, a souvenir shop, the beach
• Point out four things you can hear, i.e. music, birds singing, children laughing, waves lapping
• Point out three things you can feel, i.e. a tablecloth underneath your fingertips, sand in between your toes, the warmth of the sun
• Point out two things you can smell, i.e. the smell of suncream, freshly grilled fish
• Point out one thing you can taste, i.e. an unusual flavour of ice cream
• Speak to your children about the different aspects of your surroundings and enjoy the moment

Brits' happiest childhood memories

1. Spending all your time in the swimming pool on holiday - 14%
2. Wearing armbands -  13%
3. Moving house - 11%
4. Making a holiday friend - 10%
5. Joining in children's entertainment while on holiday - 10%
6. Performing in school nativities/ Easter plays - 10%
7. Getting first pet - 10%
8. Building sandcastles - 9%
9. Favourite teachers - 9%
10. Long hot summer holidays - 8%

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS: Founded in 2004 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2015, On the Beach is the UK's leading beach holiday specialist.  With more than 60 million website visitors this year, over 1.5 million customers found, booked and enjoyed their perfect On the Beach holiday. Book online at www.onthebeach.co.uk/, or by calling the UK call centre on 0871 474 3000

On The Beach questioned 2,000 UK residents in October 2018. 

To see Brits' top 50 childhood memories visit: www.onthebeach.co.uk/childhood-memories

To see Brits funniest holiday memories please see video here or to view Brits most favourite childhood memories please see video here