The Problem with Summer Vaction - Parents Need to Read

So I just finished a great book that everyone should read called Outliers by Michael Gladwell. In this book, Gladwell looks at what makes "outliers" or the super-successful, successful. Think The Beatles, Bill Gates, professional hockey or baseball players. What made them so special? That answer in your head just now - I bet you got it wrong.

We like to believe that people pull themselves up out of nothing. It's our favorite story. A man who comes from nothing, became successful because he worked hard and became a "self-made man." Well...that's not entirely true. The truth is, that those people had a lot of help, a lot of luck, and worked insanely hard to become successful. There were also important factors they couldn't control, like the month and year they were born, how much money their parents made, what kind of primary school education they received, etc. Gladwell goes into more detail, but you can see the point.

For example, Bill Gates was born at the right time in the 1960's to get into the programming gig, his parents happened to be very well off, Gates went to a prestigious high school, and the mothers of that high school bought the school a computer before most people ever knew what one was. Gates also spent an inordinate amount of time programming on that computer and at others in his area. By the time he went off to start his own company (after dropping out of Harvard of course) he had 10,000 hours of time logged on computers for programming, etc. That is about how much time it takes a person to become an expert in anything. So he had a LOT of help, was born in the right three year time period, and his parents were able to fund this rare and expensive (at the time) hobby.

So now that I've got your attention, here's what parents NEED to know. This could make a huge difference in your child's life and future career.

First - Studies show that schools aren't the problem that your child isn't "smart" or "getting a good education." Guess what parents? It's you. Apparently, middle to upper class parents take a real interest in their child's lives. They ask questions at parent-teacher conferences, they encourage their children to talk to authority figures i.e. know that it's ok to ask them questions, even question how they do things. Parents talk to the teachers and even though some teachers don't like it - they ask the dreaded questions like, "Why is my kid doing so badly in your class?" This can help determine solutions to any problems the child might be having. You are not a nagging parent. And the low income-poverty level classes? They back down to authority figures. They don't ask questions. They may not be able to make it to that parent-teacher conference because they have to work. Their child is greatly disadvantaged because they do not learn from their parents to ask questions or take an interest in their own education. If the parents aren't taking an interest, the child may not either.

Next thing is vacation time. Summer breaks seem great for kids, but they are really bad for advancing their reading skills and academic abilities. Look at U.S. school terms they're 180 days right? Check out Japan's term: 243 days. South Korea's? About 220 days. And guess what, these countries are kicking our ass in math and overall education. And guess what? Studies show that reading skills drop drastically over the summer months in homes where parents don't have their child in camps, sports, reading clubs, etc. Poorer families can't afford shuttling their kids to a dozen summer activities - they have to work. But stimulating your child's mind during vacation, summer breaks, etc helps influence their success in school.

IThird (Yep, there's more) This one's simple. Teach your kids good work ethic. Kids who work harder, are more successful. In fact, scientists no longer believe in "talent" because most people start out with roughly the same "talent" or level, and it is the amount of time they put into their efforts. Think about that 10,000 rule. Those are the professional cellists, ballerinas, etc. People who put in 5-8,000 hours, they might be ok, but they'll probably end up teaching instead of professionally playing. And the ones who put in around 3-5,000 hours - it's a hobby and probably not something they will end up pursuing.

Finally, middle-upper class parents usually encourage their children to pursue their hobbies. If the kid likes to sing - they get voice lessons. They see this as an opportunity for something real. Lower income families usually treat these interests as mere hobbies and "cute" but not something viable that the child could actually do for real. So find out what your kids enjoy, and encourage it in any way possible. You might have the next Mozart under your roof.

So parents - read this book and start your kids off right. Some things you can't change, but science, statistics, and studies show that you can at least help give them a better chance. Oh - and IQ doesn't matter really. If your kid has an IQ over 130, they're smart. IQ of 100-129 is average, but good. So don't sweat it too much. It's what you teach your kids that matters. :)