Prioritizing Soft Skills: Parents Want Honesty and Respect Taught to Kids Early On

A recent study has found that teaching children certain character traits earlier in life can have a significant positive impact on their overall well-being and success in various areas of life. The study, which surveyed over two thousand parents of minors aged zero to six, discovered that the three most desired character traits that parents wish to teach their children are kindness, responsibility, and self-control.

According to the study, children who scored high on measures of kindness, responsibility, and self-control had better outcomes in various areas of life, such as academic success, social relationships, and overall well-being. Kindness, defined as the ability to care for and be considerate of others, was found to be positively associated with better social relationships and overall well-being. Responsibility, or the ability to take care of oneself and fulfill obligations, was found to be positively associated with better academic success and overall well-being. Self-control, or the ability to resist temptations and control impulses, was found to be positively associated with better academic success and overall well-being.

The findings of the study highlight the importance of teaching children key character traits such as kindness, responsibility, and self-control early in life. These traits have been found to be positively associated with better outcomes in various areas of life, such as academic success, social relationships, and overall well-being.

In addition to the emphasis on character development, the study also found that many parents prioritize the schooling of soft skills over traditional academics for their young children. A separate survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care System found that 62% of parents prioritize their children understanding soft skills, such as honesty and respect, before they’re eight years old, compared to 37% who prioritize subjects like math and technology.


The survey also revealed that parents believe financial literacy (61%), sewing or knitting (46%), and internet safety (45%) are the top non-academic skills that schools should focus on in early childhood education. Additionally, 81% of parents surveyed believed that educators should spend time teaching things outside of academics, such as soft skills and current events, and 90% believed that social issues should be part of the early childhood curriculum.

Overall, the study and survey highlight the importance of a well-rounded education that includes not just traditional academics but also the development of character traits and soft skills. By fostering these traits and skills in children, parents and educators can improve their overall well-being and success in various areas of life.


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