A child's behavior in kindergarten may loosely appear like a temporary thing that eventually be outgrown but according to a research, parents may want to correct negative behaviors during this stage. Apparently, childhood behavior makes a significant difference on how well the kid will eventually grow as an adult.
In a study conducted by Penn State University and Duke University, CNN reports the researchers found out that children who had negative behaviors succeeded less than those who had positive behaviors. The comprehensive study done for two decades discovered that children who were helpful and generous have a higher chance of graduating college and get a stable job at 25 years old.
Meanwhile, nuisance kids were found out to be doing less than their well-behaved counterparts, as they are likely to finish only high school. Further, these troubled kids are found out to have a tendency in carrying these negativities and eventually be involved in substance abuse.
The study has well established how social skills and mental health can also affect a person's overall health. "It's like a paradigm shift around what it means to be mentally well at an early age and how that dictates how life goes for you later on," program director for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kristin Schubert, told the publication.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded study conducted the research by analyzing teachers' evaluation of 800 kids. Lead researcher of the study, Damon Jones, said that the findings may be surprising but they aren't "completely surprised."
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According to AHA Parenting, a child's social skills can be honed through despite a very complex social world. It's best to start early on, at best during the onset of toddlerhood and parents may want to invest in this important set of skills which they will be using for the rest of their lives.
Encouraging healthy friendships and being a good role model are two important things to take note. Moreover, it will make a big difference to teach kids that other people's feelings matter to develop empathy.
At times, it will be handy to equip a child with knowledge on how to defend himself without ever inducing harm or pain to others. Also, at an early age, children must be taught on how to fix disagreements and fights.
