Children Who Spend More Quality Time With Parents Have Better Academic Aspirations, Study Says

A recent study has revealed that spending quality time with children helps improve their educational aspirations rather than studying with them. The research also found that teens are more encouraged to continue their studies if they enjoy fun learning activities with their parents instead of just sitting inside their home reading.

The study conducted by the University of Warwick said that students who go on cultural trips to museums with their moms and dads are likely to continue their studies past the age of 16 than those who are not exposed to these things. Researchers said the same number was higher compared to students who also went to homework clubs and participated in extra-curricular activities.

Lead researcher Dr. Dimitra Hartas of the university's Centre for Education Studies said the findings can be very useful to parents who still have young kids in school. "These findings have significant implications for family and educational policy, especially with regard to 'raising aspirations' and reducing early school leaving," Hartas said.

The study looked into the responses of 10,931 students from the United Kingdom. These were analyzed based on family emotional closeness, homework, extra-curricular activities, bullying and friendships, among others.

Science Daily explained that the researchers discovered that the emotional closeness of children to their parents was an indicator that kids will aspire for further studies than those who do not have such bond. It said that children who do not feel close to their parents mostly consider pursuing studies as "unimportant."

Hartas said that the findings of the study will also make parents reconsider the role of their homes and make it a place where emotional relationships are made stronger and not just a mere extension of school. "Filial dynamics such as emotional closeness to parents and cultural capital were better predictors than more school-driven parent-child interactions," she said.