The Science Behind Raising Successful Children Part 1
What does it mean to raise a successful child? As Christians, will our definition be different from the world’s? These questions are worth pondering. In this mentoring moment, I am sharing 85 years of Harvard research on the hidden science behind raising the idea of ‘successful kids.’ Are you ready to be surprised?
Harvard’s 85-year study revealed that children who do chores become more successful adults. Do you allow your appropriate-aged child to participate in Saturday morning pancake or muffin making? Get out the step stool, wash little hands, don an apron, allow the flour to fly, and eggshells to break and fall into the batter. I already see some of you cringing! The sacrifice of a messy counter and floured-floor is worth it so says the scientific research. Let’s look at it.
This study began in 1938, following 724 participants through their entire lives. After eight decades of meticulous tracking researchers identified exactly two predictors of adult happiness and success: love and work ethic. They noted that neither enrichment programs nor competitive academics were the basis for a strong work ethic. What was? Simply this: childhood chores. This research study found that “children who participated in household tasks at ages 3-4 became the most successful young adults – outperforming peers in academics, relationships, and career satisfaction.”
This study also determined that only 28% of children today do chores regularly compared to 82% of today’s adults who participated in chores growing up. Did you know that sorting socks or setting the table requires the brain to engage in executive functioning skills such as working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control? According to the study, these skills predict success better than I.Q. scores. This makes me wonder - is this why children’s working memory scores are dropping as indicated on entrance tests into private schools? Along with educational psychologists, and other administrators, I have scratched my brain about this trend.
According to brain science and this Harvard study, “When your child helps fold laundry, they’re holding multiple steps in their memory while coordinating physical movements. Their brains build neural pathways between hemispheres as they match socks and sort by color. The sequential thinking required for loading the dishwasher strengthens the same cognitive process needed for reading comprehension and mathematical reasoning.”
In another Australian study, researchers found that in looking at 207 children ages 5-13, those that did household tasks showed significant improvement in working memory and impulse control. Why is working memory important? It allows us to follow instructions, solve problems, learn new skills, and make decisions. In education, it’s key to reading, writing, and math. Did you learn how to do long division? Do you recall how difficult it was, at first, to hold division, multiplication and subtraction facts in your mind while working step by step through the division problem? That’s using your working memory! Next week, we’ll address the why and what of household chores. Get ready to lay down your task performance perfectionism and allow your children to make family contributions through building stronger brains via chores!
