Study Raw Data:
TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_co…
Script:
Shortly after World War II, an ambitious British Study on children and their parents was initiated. It followed 14,000 children and their parents from birth to childhood, and looked at not only the progress of their health but also their relative happiness and success.
As you might imagine, this study produced mountains of data. But I’m going to summarize it into 6 major bullet points for you, which you will find shockingly simple.
So here’s the bottom line when it comes to parenting if you want to maximize the success of your children:
6) Don’t be poor. Yes, I know that is an insensitive remark, but the study clearly shows that kids born into poor families do worse than those born in more affluent families. Poorer children appear to have a higher mountain to climb in order to become as successful as their more affluent counterparts. The study does not clarify why. But the authors also points out, some of the disadvantages of being poor can be overcome with other factors, which are the following bullet points.
5) Be an engaged parents. This seems pretty basic, and it is. Put simply, parents who are engaged with their children, that is, take time to talk and listen to them end up having more successful children. This should be no surprise.
4) Being warm, loving and kind to your children is also a factor in their success. Again, this seems pretty basic and logical. Goes to show that being a great parent is not necessarily rocket science.
3) Read to your children and encourage them to read on their own. The study found that children who were read to by their parents daily did better in school and were much more successful later in life. In addition, these children were more likely read for pleasure on their own later in life. And this reading for pleasure was also a big factor in their success. So parents should encourage their children to read for pleasure on their own as well.
2) Take the kids with you on trips and excursions. These excursions tend to build a child’s bond with their parents, and creates warm memories for them later in life. This turns out to be a positive factor in their success.
1) Put the kids to bed at the same time every day. The study showed that kids who went to bed at a regular time every day did better and school and stayed out of trouble more than kids who went to bed at different or odd times during the week.
So it turns out the even though most parents have no idea what they are doing, there are several simple steps you can take that will better ensure your kids happiness and success.
I wish you and your family all the best.
