Future success begins at home
A People often focus on education as a way to help children grow into successful adults. However, it is worth considering the importance of parents and home life in this process. According to research, what happens at home may actually have a larger influence on us than what happens at school.
B Our society has changed a lot in the last 30 or 40 years. The organisation of many families has changed. These days there are many single parent families and families where both parents go out to work. It is also true that many grandparents are less involved than they used to be in the past. Our social life has changed as technology has advanced. We now live much of our lives on mobile devices. Many children communicate with other children through online game playing, social media sites and messaging. We also have 24/7 access to entertainment. This has all had a big effect on our children.
C So, what do researchers believe is the way to promote well-being and success for our children? Firstly, they say that children benefit from eating dinner with their families at least five times a week. It encourages a sense of being part of a group and provides a space to talk.
D It’s also important to limit the amount of time a child spends using tablets and smartphones. Apparently, too much time spent on these devices can lead to a lack of focus, attention, vocabulary and social skills. Instead, parents are advised to read to their younger children and to encourage older children to read for themselves.
E Research also shows that giving children chores to do around the home can help them become successful adults who can focus on a task and understand that a job needs to be done. Although children do well when their parents are with them as much as possible, apparently there can be benefits for girls who have working mothers. It seems that seeing their mothers have careers, encourages young women to do well both academically and at work.
F Finally, researchers say you should take your children on holiday. Research shows that people who travel more as children, especially when they go abroad, grow up into positive and successful adults. Travel encourages children to explore, be open-minded and to learn from their experiences.
