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 Home Environment and Parenting as a Predictor of AchievementRead about "Home Environment and Parenting as a Predictor of Achievement " on parentingfact.com. This article, "Home Environment and Parenting as a Predictor of Achievement ", will help you with your questions or concerns. We parentingfact.com, have a large number of updated articles. Please feel free in searching for more information on parentingfact.com. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Although home environment and parenting definitely influence a child's ability
to succeed, the number one predictor of achievement is a child’s own internal
belief system. Their beliefs, how they interpret their home environment, and the
parenting style they grew up with all help define who they are and who they will
become. When it comes down to it, it isn’t so important what happens to a child.
How a child interprets and responds to what happens to her or him is a more
accurate predictor of their ability to succeed in life. Home Environment: NOT a Predictor of Achievement Children growing up under the same roof can turn out quite differently in terms
of personality and achievements. If home environment and parenting style were
the only predictors of achievement, then siblings living under the same roof
(having grown up with the same parents in the same environment) would achieve
equally well in life. Yet, more often than not, siblings achieve quite different
levels of success. Have you ever wondered why you and your siblings are the opposite of one another
in terms of personality, skills and achievements? Perhaps, you may have even
wondered if one of your siblings wasn’t secretly adopted—even actually tried to
convince them of this “fact”. The popular habit of calling someone the “black
sheep of the family” comes from the simple fact that, in the majority of
families, there is at least one member who is more difficult or somehow
different from the rest. The reason children from the same family can be completely different from one
another is because of what I call the “Law of Siblings”. The closer children are in age, the more likely they will be different from
one another (especially when they are of the same sex). Although there are exceptions, the majority of families are affected by this
law. What Causes Siblings to Differ in Terms of Achievement? One of our greatest needs as human beings is to belong—to find and have our
recognized place within a community. At an early age, many siblings come to the mistaken conclusion that only one
person in the family can be the best at any particular skill. Therefore, if one
sibling is the best at something, the other(s) will strive to be the best at
being the worst. If one is the “academic”, the other(s) will be the “athlete” or
the “artist”. Effectively Supporting Children’s Achievements In my book When You’re About To Go Off The Deep End, Don’t Take Your Kids
With You, I recommend parents use their home environment and parenting
skills to boost the chances of their children achieving both the outer and inner
rewards of life. Here are four critical ways to effectively support their
achievements: 1. Support Your Children’s Passions – Notice what each child likes to do.
Be attached to helping them achieve what they love to do, rather than achieving
in the areas that are only important to you. One of my 21-year-old counseling
clients had, in her words, been “made” to have good grades in high school
because her parents had a dream of her being accepted into medical school. By
third-year university this student was not only failing, but she was also on
anti-depressants. When I told her I didn’t believe that she really wanted to
continue with medical school, she admitted for the first time in her life that
she never wanted to be a doctor. She wanted to be a professional photographer—an
occupation her parents believed was a waste of her natural intelligence. 2. Encourage Your Children with Unconditional Love – Spend more time
using encouraging phases that focus on the “who” each child is, instead of the
“what” each child does. A comment like “I am so proud to have you as my
daughter!” is far more encouraging than “I am proud that you got that A in
math”. Linking your love and praise to what your children achieve can lead them
to believe your love is conditional on their performance. 3. Model a Happy, Healthy Adult for Your Children – Parents can go far in
helping their children succeed by modeling what it means to have a fulfilling
life. Ensure that you experience both external and internal achievements.
Internal achievements might include: going after your dreams, having supportive
relationships, and enjoying the journey of your life (rather than focusing only
on certain destinations). 4. Boost Your Children’s Self-esteem with Opportunities to Contribute –
Far too many parents are using what I call “hand-out” parenting in which they do
and give everything to their children. When a child grows up believing they are
the center of the universe, they develop a false sense of confidence that can
lead to future disappointments. The best thing a parent can do is to help each
child feel worthy by giving them many opportunities to help others (including
responsibilities and chores around the house!). All parents want their children to achieve their full potential. Although many
believe that home environment and parenting are predictors of achievement, true
achievement ultimately comes from the positive beliefs children have about
themselves and the positive interpretations they make about their life. So what
are the two best predictors of achievement? How well a parent nurtures their
child so they can discover their own passions, and how well they provide
opportunities for their children to contribute their own unique gifts to the
community. Kelly Nault, MA author of When You’re About To Go Off The Deep End, Don’t Take Your Kids With You inspires moms to put themselves first—for the sake of their children. She shares time-tested tools that motivate children to want to be well behaved, responsible and happy! Sign up for her free online parenting course here. You are free to print or publish this article provided the article and bio remain as written and include a link to http://www.mommymoments.com as above. © 2005 UltimateParent.com - All rights reserved. Article Sou
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