Don't aim too high for your child, parents told
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Loading... - KATE TAYLOR
- 18 Nov 2020
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Parents shouldn't aim too high for their children as over aspiration causes them to fail exams, researchers have warned.
Statistical analysis of maths results among secondary school children showed that the children of over-aspired parents achieved worse test scores compared to the children whose parents have realistic aims.
The findings contradict previous research which has shown parents' aspirations of their children's academic achievement can have a positive impact on their performance. Conversely, it was revealed a year ago that poor parenting can also have a negative impact on underachievement at school.
Academics at the University of Reading looked at data from 2002 to 2007 of 3,530 secondary school students (ages 11 -16 years) and their parents in Bavaria, Germany.
In this study maths achievement tests were conducted annually over the five school years.
A parental questionnaire was also administered towards the end of every school year assessing both parental aspiration (how much they want their child to earn a particular grade) and expectation (how much they believe their child can achieve a certain grade).
The academics found a direct correlation between parents' aspirations and expectations and their children's results.
Kou Murayama, from the University of Reading's School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, said: Children of parents with higher hopes achieved statistically better test scores compared to those who aspired less. This is consistent with previous findings that high parental aspiration is good for children.
“However, when we examined the parents whose aspiration exceeded realistic expectation children’s academic performance was damaged. This could be due to children experiencing anxiety, low confidence and frustration brought on by pressure from over-bearing parents – but more research is needed.
"For instance it could be that parents who aim too high also exert too much control on their children with detrimental effects.”
The academics also replicated the main findings of the study using data from a two-year study of over 12,000 U.S. students (aged 15) and their parents. The results matched the German study and provided further evidence of the negative effects of parental over-aspiration on a child’s academic performance.
Professor Murayama added: “Until now the message for parents has seemed straightforward - aim high for your children, and they will achieve more. In fact, getting parents to have higher hopes for their children has often been a goal of programs designed to improve academic performance in schools.
“Our study does show that parental aspiration can help children achieve better results at school, but only if it is realistic. Simply raising aspiration to improve educational success could be a dangerous message for parents. The focus should not be on blindly increasing parental aspiration but on giving parents the information they need to develop realistic expectations.”
Leading heads have previously warned about how an increased focus on top grades is taking a toll on pupils' self esteem.
Hilary French, headmistress at Newcastle High School for Girls, said there should be a rethink of the whole university admissions process so youngsters don't feel like failure of they drop a grade.
She said during clearing "A-level and, to a lesser extent, GCSE, grades become an obsession in our country and we are in danger of falling into the trap of believing that results define an individual and endorsing a system where, before they have barely stepped into adult life, 18 year-olds can feel a failure for simply dropping a grade".
