Study suggests link between a child's social skills and success in later life

While most parents would assert that success comes in different shapes and sizes, according to psychology research, children who are deemed typical 'successes' are the product of parents who have ticked a certain box when it comes to their approach to parenting.

The study, which was conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Duke University, analysed 700 children from their enrolment in kindergarten until their 25th birthday - almost twenty years later.

The research, reported upon in The Independent, ascertained that children who boasted particularly good social skills at kindergarten-age tended to fare better in life than those with limited social skills at the same age.

Research indicated that a capacity to cooperate, display sensitivity and resolve problems at a young age increased a child's chance of earning a college degree and securing a full-time job later in life while those with limited social skills were more likely to involve themselves in crime and binge-drinking.

Researchers assert that the emphasis a parent places on these factors aids a child's 'success' in life, with program director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kristin Schubert, explaining: "This study shows that helping children develop social and emotional skills is one of the most important things we can do to prepare them for a healthy future."

Highlighting the importance of the study, Ms. Schubert asserted: "From an early age, these skills can determine whether a child goes to college or prison, and whether they end up employed or addicted."

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