How To Improve Your Child’s Academic Performance

Earlier this year a life-changing study was published in ‘Child Development’. It should have been brought to the attention of every parent and grandparent. Its implications are immense for the academic progress and long-term success of every child in the country.

As America’s children return to school, I want to ensure that my Perspective Power People are both aware of, and able to take effective action, based on the findings of this important research.

A Question
Do your children, grandchildren or friends’ children (I’m trying to be inclusive) believe in the "utility of effort" or the "futility of effort"?

What Do I Mean?
Do the children consider their intelligence to be malleable or fixed? For example, in math, do they believe, with effort, that they can improve? Or, are they convinced they’re just no good at math; it’s a fact, end of story?

The Research
According to researchers at Columbia and Stanford Universities, a child’s perspective on his or her own intelligence correlates strongly with academic achievement.

Study 1
One study involved 373 twelve-year-olds over a two year period. After matching for previous math accomplishment, it was found the children who believed they could develop their intelligence outperformed those who considered their intelligence to be fixed. This performance gap widened over the two year duration of the study. Researchers concluded that these differences occurred because children who felt their intelligence could be developed were likely to place greater importance on education and tended to make more of an effort, especially when facing setbacks.

Study 2
In a second study, researchers intervened. 91 twelve-year-olds (with falling math grades) were divided into two groups. Both groups were given eight study skills classes. However, only one of the groups was taught that intelligence could be developed. The researchers found that the "intelligence can be developed" group reversed their falling math grade. The math grades of the other group continued to display a downward trajectory.

Bottom line: It’s vital you teach the children in your life that their intelligence can be developed; they can improve their "smarts". The research indicates that a child’s perspective on this most precious resource is an important key to his or her academic progress and long-term success.