Preschool-aged children who can focus on a particular task for an extended period of time have a 50 percent greater chance of graduating from college, according to a new study from Oregon State University.
Preschool-aged
children
who
can
focus
on
a
particular
task
for
an
extended
period
of
time
have
a
50
percent
greater
chance
of
graduating
from
college
,
according
to
a
new
study
from
Oregon
State
University
.
Observing 430 preschoolers, researchers asked parents to rate their children based on social and behavioral skills, such as "plays with a single toy for long periods of time" or "child gives up easily when difficulties are encountered."
Observing
430
preschoolers
,
researchers
asked
parents
to
rate
their
children
based
on
social
and
behavioral
skills
,
such
as
``
plays
with
a
single
toy
for
long
periods
of
time
''
or
``
child
gives
up
easily
when
difficulties
are
encountered
.
''
Additionally, in order to find out the changes happening on them, the children's reading and math skills were assessed at age 7 and again at age 21.
Additionally
,
in
order
to
find
out
the
changes
happening
on
them
,
the
children
's
reading
and
math
skills
were
assessed
at
age
7
and
again
at
age
21
.
What researchers discovered was that the ability to pay attention and follow directions may be more critical than academic abilities to overall academic success.
What
researchers
discovered
was
that
the
ability
to
pay
attention
and
follow
directions
may
be
more
critical
than
academic
abilities
to
overall
academic
success
.
"There is a big push now to teach children early academic skills at the preschool level," said Megan McClelland, an early child development researcher at Oregon State and lead author of the study, in a news release.
``
There
is
a
big
push
now
to
teach
children
early
academic
skills
at
the
preschool
level
,
''
said
Megan
McClelland
,
an
early
child
development
researcher
at
Oregon
State
and
lead
author
of
the
study
,
in
a
news
release
.
"Our study shows that the biggest predictor of college completion wasn't math or reading skills, but whether or not they were able to pay attention and finish tasks at age 4."
``
Our
study
shows
that
the
biggest
predictor
of
college
completion
was
n't
math
or
reading
skills
,
but
whether
or
not
they
were
able
to
pay
attention
and
finish
tasks
at
age
4
.
''
Parents whose children rated higher on attention span and persistence at the age of 4 had a nearly 50 percent greater chance of completing their college degree by age 25, according to the study.
Parents
whose
children
rated
higher
on
attention
span
and
persistence
at
the
age
of
4
had
a
nearly
50
percent
greater
chance
of
completing
their
college
degree
by
age
25
,
according
to
the
study
.
Fortunately, as McClelland noted in the news release, these social and behavioral skills can be taught, and the earlier adults step in to guide the student, the greater chances a child has to succeed academically.
Fortunately
,
as
McClelland
noted
in
the
news
release
,
these
social
and
behavioral
skills
can
be
taught
,
and
the
earlier
adults
step
in
to
guide
the
student
,
the
greater
chances
a
child
has
to
succeed
academically
.
"Academic ability carries you a long way, but these other skills are also important," McClelland said.
``
Academic
ability
carries
you
a
long
way
,
but
these
other
skills
are
also
important
,
''
McClelland
said
.
"Increasingly, we see that the ability to listen, pay attention, and complete important tasks is crucial for success later in life."
``
Increasingly
,
we
see
that
the
ability
to
listen
,
pay
attention
,
and
complete
important
tasks
is
crucial
for
success
later
in
life
.
''
Preschool-aged children who can focus on a particular task for an extended period of time have a 50 percent greater chance of graduating from college, according to a new study from Oregon State University.  Observing 430 preschoolers, researchers asked parents to rate their children based on social and behavioral skills, such as "plays with a single toy for long periods of time" or "child gives up easily when difficulties are encountered." Additionally, in order to find out the changes happening on them, the children's reading and math skills were assessed at age 7 and again at age 21.  What researchers discovered was that the ability to pay attention and follow directions may be more critical than academic abilities to overall academic success.  "There is a big push now to teach children early academic skills at the preschool level," said Megan McClelland, an early child development researcher at Oregon State and lead author of the study, in a news release. "Our study shows that the biggest predictor of college completion wasn't math or reading skills, but whether or not they were able to pay attention and finish tasks at age 4."  Parents whose children rated higher on attention span and persistence at the age of 4 had a nearly 50 percent greater chance of completing their college degree by age 25, according to the study. Fortunately, as McClelland noted in the news release, these social and behavioral skills can be taught, and the earlier adults step in to guide the student, the greater chances a child has to succeed academically.  "Academic ability carries you a long way, but these other skills are also important," McClelland said. "Increasingly, we see that the ability to listen, pay attention, and complete important tasks is crucial for success later in life."