The nature versus nurture debate is something that intrigues moms and dads, especially when they learn that the way they parent their child has a big impact on their future. While it’s interesting to think about the genetics one passes along to their kids, the truth is that once the egg and sperm meet in the womb, there isn’t anything that can be done about how things turn out. But it isn’t always clear how being raised will influence the child, especially since siblings can turn out so different.
Most of the time, parents attribute things like, how smart their kids are to nature, and how polite they are, to how they are nurtured. But a new study shows that nurture plays a big role in how well kids do in school. At first glance, the title of the article from the researchers at Ohio State University: “Time parents spend with children key to academic success,” might seem like it’s just about spending time with the kids, but the results go much further.
The research involved children from Israel who had lost one parent to death or divorce, and it showed that the child’s academic experience changed to parallel the parent raising them, not the genetic history.
That’s something to really think about. It’s important to spend quality time with your child and to accept their academic status. After all, you have such an impact on the way things turn out.
Quality time can be hard to arrange, considering how busy families are these days with work, school, activities and such. However, it is vital to help a child feel confident and loved. As well as, for them to do to their best at school, even when you aren’t there in the classroom.
A child’s emotional stability allows them to feel confident within themselves. This confidence leads to a sense of motivation. Therefore, the child believes they can achieve any possibilities. All parents want their children to be smart and do well, but most of the time it’s a combination of nature and nurture that makes us all who we are. It’s most important to do your best, spend quality time with your child, support them and love them.
Originally published on Moms.
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