10 Traits Shared by Parents of Successful Children

From household chores to social skills, from expectations to family peace: we have gathered 10 traits shared by parents of successful children, according to research.

All parents want their children to be well educated individuals who do good work, but there is no single, certain way to achieve this. The source of a child's success lies largely within the family. The 10 points below are observations drawn from various studies and open to debate; they are not exact prescriptions, but headings to make you think as you chart your own path.

1. They support their children in doing household chores

In the words of Julie Lythcott-Haims of Stanford University: "If your child is not clearing the dishes, it means someone else is doing it for them." Household chores introduce children to the everyday responsibilities that are part of life and later contribute to their ability to work as a team.

2. They help build social skills

According to research conducted by Pennsylvania State University and Duke University with 700 kindergarten students, the effect of the social bonds children form at a young age lasts for years. Making friends, acting with confidence and joining a play group are gains that reach into the future.

3. They hold high hopes

According to research from the University of California, a parent's expectations affect the child. But beware: when expectation turns into an obligation, its effect can reverse. This brings to mind the Pygmalion Effect, known as "one person's expectation of another shaping the outcome".

4. They build healthy relationships within the family

According to research from the University of Illinois, children who grow up with discord at home are more likely to struggle. What matters is not that the family stays together, but that there is no environment that creates stress for the child.

5. They are open to learning themselves

Research from the University of Michigan shows that the children of educated parents tend to follow a similar path. The reason is simple: they have a living example in front of them.

6. They introduce mathematics at an early age

A study conducted with 35,000 kindergarten children in the United States, Canada and England revealed that early mathematics ability can turn into a great advantage. Fundamentals such as numbers, counting and ordering strengthen not only mathematics but also reading ability.

7. They communicate with their children

Relationships that begin at an early age and strengthen over time are reflected positively both in the child's present and their future. Individuals who follow a good academic path are seen to have had strong communication with their families in childhood.

8. They are less stressed

The quality of time spent with a child is more important than its quantity. A constantly anxious, overprotective attitude can affect a child negatively, because children can inherit stress directly from their parents.

9. They see failure as an opportunity

According to Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, successful people see failure not as the result of low intelligence but as a chance to improve themselves. Failure is a situation that can be overcome by working, trying and making mistakes, and it has nothing to do with intelligence.

10. Working mothers

According to research from Harvard Business School, the children of working mothers get to know life early, are more willing to help their mothers, and form their first ideas about gender equality.

You can find how to build a sense of responsibility in a child in this article, and the effect of family stress here.

Gökkuşağı Koleji · The source of success begins in the family.