Children's stories of hope: moving toward an expanded understanding of the world children live in

This qualitative study that allowed children to be the dominant voice examined children's stories of hope. Twenty-nine kindergarten children through to third graders were interviewed using familiar school items: story board, pictures, puppets, and so on. One elementary school, located in a large southwestern metropolitan city, was selected for this study. Data was coded and prominent themes emerged illustrating that children are much more moral than many adults give them credit for. Approximately one-half of the stories shared focused not on the children's wants or “hopes”, but on others - classmates, friends, family, or extended relatives. The findings support research that highlights the issues of care, concern, and compassion that are a priority for young children.