Children do not come with an instruction manual under their arm, so parents often resort to their instinct or to old formulas that have been passed down from one generation to the next. However, although love and affection are vital, sometimes they are not enough. It is important that both parents and people who are in contact with children and who, in one way or another, influence their education, know the peculiarities of each stage they go through and handle the most appropriate techniques to stimulate their potential to the maximum or to put a stop to any problems that may arise.
In this sense, Psychology offers very valuable tools. Psychological studies do not stop and often provide very interesting educational guidelines that all parents and educators should take into account.
1. Strict discipline can be counterproductive
A study conducted in the United States revealed that approximately 90% of parents admitted that they frequently scolded their children using swear words and a harsh tone, with the aim of imposing strict discipline. In fact, when children are young, it is important to have rules because they allow them to feel safe and grow up in a more organized environment that inspires confidence. However, all extremes are bad.
After analyzing almost 1,000 families, it was discovered that overly strict verbal discipline actually has counterproductive effects, since it can exacerbate the problem it is intended to contain. In fact, these psychologists from the University of Michigan affirm that the harsher and stricter verbal discipline is, the more behavioral problems and depression it can generate, especially in the long term, when children enter preadolescence. However, these results do not indicate that children should not be disciplined, but that it is necessary to do so with love, choosing the right words and tone.
2. Regular sleep schedules boost cognitive development
It was recently discovered that during sleep we eliminate waste substances from the brain’s metabolism, an essential process to prevent the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Now a new study carried out at the University College of London analysed more than 11,000 children and discovered that sleep also affects their cognitive abilities. These researchers worked with children from the age of three to seven, to evaluate the effects that sleep schedule had on their cognitive functions.
They concluded that regular sleep schedules are essential, especially for brain development. In fact, children who scored lower in areas such as reading, mathematics and spatial awareness were also those who had the most irregular sleep schedules. That is why, at least during the first years of life, it is important for children to go to bed at the same time and have a restful sleep.
3. Television limits the development of skills
Some parents let their children watch television from a very early age because they think it can be beneficial, at least for the child to develop imagination and learn some words. However, a recent study by psychologists at the University of Montreal has disproved this idea.
After analysing almost 2,000 young children, these researchers came to the conclusion that television not only does not improve their cognitive skills but is even harmful. The data collected has shown that the more hours spent in front of the television, the worse their mathematical and motor skills are. The first three years of life are a sensitive period for the development of numerous practical skills, so television would only take away valuable time that the child could use to discover their environment and interact with people.
4. Physical exercise enhances intelligence
There are many reasons to encourage children to get into the habit of physical activity, but now a new study conducted at the University of Dundee offers us another reason. Moderate to vigorous physical activity is linked to academic performance, particularly logical thinking and verbal comprehension.
These researchers analysed the academic performance of more than 4,700 children in different subjects, as well as the amount of time they spent on physical activity. They discovered that playing sports was linked to good academic performance, a connection that was even more pronounced in girls. In fact, this is not a completely surprising result since it is known that physical exercise increases oxygenation to the brain, a key detail for cognitive performance.
5. Overprotection generates stress and depression
Some parents say that raising their children is more stressful than working, but the truth is that it all depends on the parenting style that each person adopts. Raising a child always involves a certain amount of worry, but even so, there are many parents who really enjoy this task. How do they do it?
A study conducted at the University of Mary Washington analyzed the parenting style of 181 women whose children were under five years old. These psychologists discovered that mothers who tended to practice overprotective parenting, who believed that children were sacred and that they should devote themselves completely to them, experienced less life satisfaction, were more prone to depression and suffered more stress and anxiety. Therefore, overprotection is not only harmful to the psychological development of children but also to parents.
Sources:
Wang, MT & Kenny, S. (2014) Longitudinal Links Between Fathers’ and Mothers’ Harsh Verbal Discipline and Adolescents’ Behavior Problems and Depressive Symptoms. Child Development ; 85(3): 908-923.
Booth, J.N. et. Al. (2014) Associations between objectively measured physical activity and academic attainment in adolescents from a UK cohort. Br J Sports Med ; 48:265-270.
Kelly, Y. et. Al. (2013) Time for bed: associations with cognitive performance in 7-year-old children: a longitudinal population-based study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health ; 67: 926-931.
Pagani, L.S. et. Al. (2013) Early childhood television viewing and kindergarten entry readiness. Pediatric Research 74: 350–355.
Rizzo, K.M. et. Al. (2013) Insight into the Parenthood Paradox: Mental Health Outcomes of Intensive Mothering. Journal of Child and Family Studies ; 22(5): 614-620.
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