The magic of nurturing: Boosting children's IQs with love and care
Thursday, June 6, 2024.
Ever wondered if there's a secret formula to raising smarter kids? Well, it turns out the answer might be simpler than you think.
Research shows that children raised by nurturing parents develop higher IQs. And we're not talking about a small boost—these kids score an average of 6 points higher on IQ tests!
So, what's the secret sauce? It's all about love, security, and a dash of responsive caregiving.
How The Study Was Conducted
This groundbreaking study, involving over 1,600 children from Brazil and South Africa, sheds light on how adversity can be overcome with the right kind of care.
Many of these children faced significant challenges like poverty and low birth weight. Yet, with responsive caregiving and opportunities to learn, they were able to unlock their full potential.
Responsive caregiving means being sensitive to a child's needs and knowing how to respond effectively. Think of it as the ultimate parenting hack—tuning in to your child's signals and giving them the support they need.
Typical Nurturing Activities
What does responsive caregiving look like in action? Here are some classic nurturing activities:
Reading to the child: A story a day keeps the boredom away.
Playing games with letters and numbers: Turning learning into a fun adventure.
Singing songs together: Because every kid loves a good sing-along.
Not only does a nurturing environment boost IQ, but it also leads to better growth and fewer psycho-social difficulties in adolescence. However, it doesn't completely erase the effects of early adversities, as noted by Professor Black:
"A nurturing environment also led to better growth and fewer psycho-social difficulties in adolescence, but it did not mitigate the effects of early adversities on growth and psycho-social difficulties."
Professor Maureen M. Black, a co-author of the study, explains the impact:
"We found that adolescents who were raised in nurturing environments had IQ scores that were on average 6 points higher than those who were not. This is a striking difference that has profound implications by increasing the intelligence of entire communities."
Professor Black emphasizes the broader applicability of these findings:
"I think our findings could apply to communities here in the U.S. where children are hungry, living in poverty, or lacking in access to medical care."
Implications for Optimizing Human Development
The research tracked children from birth to their teenage years. It found that prenatal and early life adversity can lower IQ and cause psychological adjustment problems. But here's the silver lining: a nurturing environment created by caregivers can counteract these disadvantages.
Imagine a world where every child grows up with the love, security, and nurturance they need.
We could potentially raise generations with higher intelligence, better growth, and fewer psychological issues. It's not just about individual success; it's about uplifting entire communities.
So, what can we do to create this nurturing environment? Professor Black's advice is simple yet profound:
"Get children involved in friendly activities as much as possible rather than parking them in front of a screen. Children love to learn and in a nurturing environment they can grow into adolescents and adults with the abilities to care for themselves, their families, and their communities."
Final Thoughts
In a world that's often harsh and demanding, optimizing human development with nurturance, security, and love could be our greatest investment. Let's embrace the power of responsive caregiving and watch our children grow into tomorrow's brilliant, compassionate leaders.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Effects of responsive caregiving and learning opportunities during pre-school ages on the association of early adversities and adolescent human capital: an analysis of birth cohorts in two middle-income countries
et al.
Open AccessPublished:January, 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30309-6
