How Children Succeed

by Paul Tough, 2012 (see my recommended reading list)

This inspiring book challenges the long held view that IQ was the important factor in enabling our children to succeed. Paul Tough writes about a number of exciting programmes in the States taking a different approach to turn young people’s lives around and enable them to achieve success academically and in their lives in general.

There is now plenty of understanding about the impact of trauma and stress on young brains and how this can severely interfere with children’s ability to focus and learn. However the good news is that our brains are malleable so that interventions designed to develop executive function, that is self-control and good decision making, can make a significant difference all through life.

Longitudinal research both internationally and in NZ has found that self-discipline is a better predictor of success than IQ. If you’ve ever heard about the Marshmallow test, researchers followed up the children who participated and found that those who were able to wait for fifteen minutes for their treat achieved higher high school marks than those who couldn’t wait. The importance of self-control has been borne out by the study done at Otago University in Dunedin.

Conscientiousness is a highly valued quality in the employment market. This is the ability to try hard whether or not there is an incentive. Apparently this quality predicts better marks in school, committing fewer crimes, staying married longer and living longer due to smoking and drinking less, having lower blood pressure, fewer strokes and lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease!

Angela Duckworth, who was responsible for a ground-breaking study into self-control versus IQ, developed a simple 12-statement test to measure grit – the ability to commit to achieving a particular mission or goal. She discovered that students with high grit scores were able to achieve high marks at college despite having low entry marks. She found that children with high grit scores go further in spelling bee competitions and military cadets with high scores will persevere through to the end of military training rather than dropping out.

These character traits can be taught and learnt. They make the difference for our young people whether they come from well-resourced families and communities or not. They make the difference between our young people not achieving and succeeding.

There is a fascinating chapter about one extraordinary chess teacher using chess to teach kids how to think. By evaluating their games a move at a time she teaches the kids how to develop all the character traits necessary for success in chess and in life. They honestly and bravely confront their mistakes and figure out how to do better in the next game until they achieve mastery.

Some of the keys Paul uncovered are the necessity for parents to not be so protective that our young people never experience failure or disappointment. We must allow them the opportunity to develop the skills to think about and cope with challenges, to experience mastery and to see themselves as capable and resourceful. Neither do we want our young people growing up experiencing on-going stress or trauma. Our job is to provide enough warmth, stability and guidance without over-protecting.

Imagine the difference it would make to our young people and our communities if we deliberately fostered these qualities: conscientiousness, grit, resilience, perseverance and optimism.

Character matters!

Other good resources:

Toolbox Parenting Groups, www.theparentingplace.com