Saturday, April 13, 2013

Do American parents focus too much on intelligence?

The link below is a brief article discussing research that finds American parents are very different than other parents around the world, even when compared to other modern/western parents. In particular the research looks at the primary focus of parents.

The findings did not surprise me from an educator standpoint. I often had to reassure parents that through play and social interactions children were building the foundation for math, science, reading, writing, etc. PLUS they were gaining a very different type of intelligence than what we typically think if as intelligence - Social-Emotional Intelligence. This type of intelligence, in my humble opinion, is severely needed and sadly lacking in our society currently. Who cares if you are a math whiz if you cannot function with others and/or manage your emotions?


I am VERY curious to hear your thoughts on this! Please post below.


http://www.slate.com/blogs/how_babies_work/2013/04/10/parental_ethnotheories_and_how_parents_in_america_differ_from_parents_everywhere.html