More research in favor of "Over-Parenting"
Posted by Richard Kuhlenschmidt Sun, 08 Oct 2006 23:47:17 GMT
The UK Guardian today cites research by Professor Joseph Mahoney of Yale University and others that children who take part in after-school activities such as drama and football get better exam results, have a stronger relationship with their parents and are less likely to smoke or drink than those who do not.
According to the study:
Our research shows that children who take part in organised activities benefit developmentally. They are healthier, judging from their academic performance and indicators of psychological and emotional wellbeing and self-esteem, as well as from their use of cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, and their parent-child relationships,’ said Joseph Mahoney, an associate professor in the psychology department of Yale University in the United States, who is the report’s lead author. ‘They are more competent than other children, better adjusted, less prone to antisocial behaviour such as dropping out of school, getting arrested or substance use, and they function better in the classroom.’
The evidence shows that what some deride as ‘hyper-parenting’ and ‘hothousing’ by ambitious parents is a myth and that young people who spend time in such pursuits enjoy a range of benefits at the time and in later life, according to Mahoney.
Read the article here.
