GIL, Glicéria. As histórias das crianças: Um estudo sobre competência e capacidade narrativa com crianças em situação de pobreza. []. , 24, 4, pp.467-484. ISSN 0870-8231.

This study analyzed the existing risk factors, competence and narrative ability of a group of children in poverty. The literature review singled out the use of narratives produced by children as a valid instrument in the analysis of children’s resilience or competence. 40 children, of both genders, participated in this investigation, aged 4 to 6 years old, and going to 3 Kindergarten in Portimão. The Early Development Instrument (EDI), oral language evaluation test, demographic data and MacArthur Story Stem Battery were used to, respectively, evaluate the children’s general competence, the family risk level and children’s narrative skills. Each narrative was coded in information units, chronology level and organization. The results show that children with higher levels of general competence were the ones who showed more information units in their narratives. The risk level was significantly related to oral language and narrative ability. Girls were more competent than boys, in regards to narrative ability. Generally, the data emphasizes the importance of the relationship between competence and narrative skills, and how these two characteristics are determinant to the promotion of educational success in children.

: Competence/resilience; oral language; narrative skills (ability); poverty.

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