Chapter 5
24
FOCUS ON THE FOCUS ON THE
FAMILY FAMILY
BY DR JAMES DOBSON
RAISE YOUR CHILD’S IQ
According to Dr Burton White at Harvard
University, there are six factors that contribute to
the intellectual capacity of the child, and we
discussed the first three helpful environment
factors yesterday.
They were 1) The most critical period for
the child’s mental development is between the
ages of eight and 18 months. 2) The mother is the
most important environmental factor. And 3) The
amount of live language directed to the child
between 12 and 15 months is absolutely crucial.
Now for the rest of the list 4) Children who were
given free access to the living rooms of their
homes progressed much faster than those whose
movements were restricted. 5) The nuclear family
is the most important educational delivery system.
If we’re going to produce capable, happy children,
it will be by strengthening family units and by
improving the interactions that occur within them.
And finally, 6) The best parents were those who
excelled at three key functions: they were superb
designers and organizers of their children’s
environments; they permitted their children to
interrupt them for brief 30-second episodes,
during which personal comfort and information
were exchanged; and lastly, they were firm
disciplinarians, while simultaneously showing
great affection for their children.
It other words, it took a 10-year research
project to reveal what most mothers have known
intuitively for centuries.
enriching families FocusontheFamily
Tel: 6336 1444 Singapore Limited
www.family.org.sg Founder: Dr James Dobson
18 (S.T. 14/11/06 Today)
BY DR JAMES DOBSON
RAISE YOUR CHILD’S IQ
Accordingly to a study done by Dr Burton White at
Harvard University, there are six key
environmental factors that contribute to the
development of intelligence in children. Let me cite
the first three, and I’ll complete the list tomorrow.
1) According to Dr White’s research, it is
increasingly clear that the origins of human
competence are to be found in a critical period of
development between eight and 18 months of
age. The child’s experiences during these brief
months do more to influence future intellectual
competence than any time before or after.
The single most important environmental
factor in the life of the child is his mother. “She’s
on the hook,” says Dr White, “and carries more
influence on her child’s experiences than any
other circumstance.” Fathers are important, too, of
course, but nothing competes with a mother’s love
and involvement during that critical period.
3) The amount of live language directed to
a child (not to be confused with television, radio,
or overheard conversations) is vital to his
development of fundamental linguistic, intellectual,
and social skills. The researchers concluded:
“Providing a rich social life for your child is the
best thing you can do to guarantee a good mind. “I
other words, Mums, talk to your toddlers!
enriching families FocusontheFamily
Tel: 6336 1444 Singapore Limited
www.family.org.sg Founder: Dr James Dobson