Do parents influence children's learning abilities?

Question

for example. My neice is only 3 1/2 yrs old, and she speaks in sentences and is learning how to read already. I think this is because my sister has put her in day care since she was very little. Not only that, but my sister is constantly speaking to her and teaching her new words..
compared to my neighbors that have a 2 1/2 yr old daughter, in which the kid doesnt even know how to say a word. all she does is mumble and make sounds like if she was 1, and when my neighbor tries sitting her down to show her an object and the name, the little girl avoids it completely. by now she should be saying comprehensible words, even if they're not sentences.
do you think the parents have to do with this learning ability?

Answer 1

They actually can. For example, children who are born to couples who are developmentally disabled, are usually very behind in their skills. I work with these children because of this. These kids can be of normal intellegence, but because their parents dont know how to stimulate them properly they get behind and without early intervention can end up in special education themselves.

However, this doen not mean that parents are always to blame when their child is behind, This little girl is obviously very delayed in her speech. She may have autism or another disorder as well. Her parents need to refer her to the local Early Intervention program for free services.

Answer 2

Don't judge or compare children....each and every child learns at their own pace. Yes, parents influence a child's level of learning, so do day-cares...that does not make one better than the other. I have three children. My oldest has always been right on the normal curve in everything she has ever done....and gets A's & B's. Her reading level has always been a year or two above her grade level. My middle has always excelled and was walking and talking in full sentences before she was a year old and has carried a straight A adverage since she started school. She has read at the 12th+ grade level since she was in 5th grade. My youngest barely spoke until she was 3....then she started with multi-sylable words and full sentances. She is mildly dyslexic and has fought to read at her grade level although she does get good grades. I was never worried about her speech because she could follow 3 & 4 step directions since she was 2. None of my children have ever attended a day-care....they have always been with my sitter or myself & husband. Your neighbors child will excell when it is her time and not until. You cannot force knowledge or speech on any child....if she is concerned she should talk to her doctor....and you should just be supportive and encouraging.

Answer 3

Every child learns at their own pace but the best teacher any child will have throughout their life time is their parents whether it be good or bad. Children who's parents spend time talking and playing with them learn more. Lots of kids today cant play or communicate properly because they don't know how to. Their plonked in front of TVs or computer screens for hours on end so they never learn through play and talking. Sad isn't it???

Answer 4

I think parents can help, but that kids will hit milestones when they are ready, and no amount of teaching will do anything until the child is ready.

When the child is older, parents definatly come into play, but for younger kids, sometime it just takes time.

My son is 19 months and he only has 4 or 5 words. This is not for lack of talking, or teaching him, he is just not ready.

And I believe daycare can do more harm than good for a young child. I would prefer my child be delayed in talking, than to be seperated from me for several hours a day. He will learn to talk eventually, but I can never get his childhood back, and I can never give him the security back that he would have lost in daycare.

Answer 5

It is true that an environment in which everyone speaks to the baby and reads to her will help her speak earlier but the other child should be speaking by now. That is frightening that she has said nothing. Day care is not the reason your niece speaks so well and is starting to read. Far from it, in day care there is little one on one time for a child. While group activities may be good and hearing lots of words is good, nothing can take the place of the one on one conversation with parents.

Answer 6

Of course they influence the child's learning ability. A child's whole surroundings influence them. This is why it's important to watch what you say and do around kids because they pick up on things. My cousin is 5 years old and he's saying things that most teenagers would be saying. If you start teaching your kids at a younger age they will most likely develop faster than most kids there age. I think that's great that your niece is doing so well. :)

Answer 7

They most certainly do. I talked to my child from the time she was little, not in baby talk but in normal talk. We watched videos together, read books, I told her stories, worked her mind and imagination from the time she was little. She had tapes full of songs she would play all day long, and would sit and watch herself in the mirror as she sang...she was SO SMART. I remember how she spoke and talked and all the songs she knew at age 2....then I look at some kids now at age two and they are miles behind where she was.

My son when he came along was like a sponge. He'd watch her play on the computer (learning cds for kids) when she was four and he just took everything in. He is a gifted child now in the 99th percentile. My third son, just as bright...and it gets easier because with the right learning and work ethics right from birth it just stays with them, and they all influence each other.

I think in some ways you have to have the desire to learn, but I think that is acquired if it is instilled at a young age. All children have inquisitive minds, but if they are left undeveloped and uninspired, yes of course they are going to be left behind.

The apple never falls far from the tree...look at the parents, and you have some idea how the kids will turn out too.

Answer 8

Parents are a child's first teacher. Every little thing they do can help their children learn new things. Ex. reading before bedtime, speaking to them in complete sentences rather than "baby talk", etc. On the other hand,parents who don't interact with their children are hindering their learning.

Answer 9

The old Nature Vs Nurture question eh?

Yes I believe they can. I spend all day talking to my son who is 3.5 years and comes out with long complex words and sentences. He can also recognise and say the letters in his own name.

As a social worker I met many children who didn't get stimulation, and it tells. You don't need to be highly educated or particuarly clever. Reading, talking, singing. It all helps. And it is never too late to start either.

However I would also say don't be so quick to judge other children. All children achieve their milestones at different times, and your neighbours child may have developmental difficulties that you are not aware of.

Answer 10

Weird. I grew up in a daycare and my mom ate healthy and read every day when she was preg. with me. I was reading by age 3. & speaking full sentences by 2. I think what the parents do, really effect the child.