7 traits parents of successful kids have

Wondering what it takes to raise a Sachin Tendulkar and Sunder Pichai? Read on for some useful parenting tips

Aditya Mittal, CFO of ArcelorMittal with his father Lakshmi Mittal

As parents, we want the world for our children; success being an important part of it. And while it doesn’t have a sure shot formula, there are definitive skills in you as a parent that will help you can help your little one to grow up with. A study backs our claim.

According to a 20-year-long study by the Pennsylvania State University and Duke University, there are 7 distinctive traits that are common among parents of successful kids. The research tracked over 700 children in the US, age between aged 3 and 25, and found a significant co-relation between their success and the presence of those specific traits in their parents.

So what are these traits and how can they help a child achieve success, let’s find out.

High expectations

Sunder Pichai, CEO, Google

Parents of successful children are known to set high goals for them. In the process, they manage to make them understand the relevance of such goals. This is called the pygmalion effect, where ‘what one person expects of another can come to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy.’

A very interesting example of this effect is Google's newest CEO Sundar Pichai. Given his excellence in academics, his parents had put in their all to send him to Stanford to study. This meant, applying for a loan and when they couldn't get one, they sold off their family's savings. Well, their efforts have clearly paid off.

Good social skills

Sachin Tendulkar, former Indian cricketer and captain

Good social skills always come in handy and can just as easily make your kid a favourite on the block. In fact, helping children develop social and emotional skills is one of the most important things that parents can do to prepare them for future.

And Sachin Tendulkar is one such case. Often called the ‘god’ of cricket, Tendulkar is known for his amazing social skills. Once in Chennai, he met a group of disabled children. Among them, there was a boy who claimed to be his biggest fan. Tendulkar invited the child to play cricket with him. The child was so elated by the proposal that he instantly stood on his feet.

Working Moms

Designer Masaba Gupta with her mother and actor Neena Gupta

A research conducted by Harvard Business School said that children benefited significantly from having a working mother around. They also found that daughters of working mothers went to school longer, had a supervisory job and earned more than their own peers. Similarly, sons of working mothers pitched in to help around in household chores and childcare.

Celebrated designer and the new face of punk fashion, Masaba Gupta is the perfect example of this type of parenting. Born to noted actor Neena Gupta and famous cricketer Vivian Richards, Gupta carved a niche for herself in the fashion industry. So much so that she has become the ‘go-to' designer for all young fashionistas in the country.

Emphasis on higher educational

Rohan Murty, junior fellow, Harvard University

Parents who themselves have attained higher educational levels can easily motivate their children to do the same. In fact, a 2014-study lead by University of Michigan psychologist Sandra Tang found that mothers who completed higher education were more likely to raise kids who attained higher educational levels.

Rohan Murty, who is a Junior Fellow in the Society of Fellows at Harvard University and attended Cornell University as an undergraduate is an example of high academic achievements. He also received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard University. His father and founder of Infosys, N. R. Narayana Murty, is a master's degree holder from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur. Academic achievements seems to run in the Murty gene pool.

Shahrukh Khan with his family

Develop relationship with children

Many experts suggest that parents are instrumental in the development of a child’s all round personality. In fact, children who receive sensitive caregiving in their first three years are said to do better in academic tests in childhood, and also have healthier relationships and greater academic attainment in their 30s.

Let’s take the example of Shah Rukh Khan, who is known to be a famous hands-on father. A multi-tasker in his own right, Shah Rukh Khan makes sure that he spends quality time with his family. Several experts suggest that parents who invest in early parent-child relationships are able to develop positive attitude and confidence in their children.

We say, so far, so good.

Indra K Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi seen here with her family

Imposition of less stress

A new research cited by Brigid Schulte at The Washington Post says that when mothers are stressed with the goal to attain work-life balance, they may actually be affecting their kids negatively. So its better to teach life-lessons to children in a stress-free environment. It's also better to encourage them to study and work in a stress-free environment.

Indra K Nooyi, the Chief Executive Officer of Pepsi Co. has set the perfect example by creating a stress-free growth zone. She has been writing to parents of those who report to her to tell them how good a job they did by raising such talents.

Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Member of Parliament

Have higher socio-economic status

The socio-economic status of parents greatly affects the socio-economic status their children are capable of achieving. In fact, it may also affect the child’s academic interest and professional success. You may have noticed an increased willingness of parents to invest in their children’s academic interests.

Most Indian parents these days are taking financial risks and sending their kids abroad for higher education. Member of parliament and the titular Maharaja of Gwalior Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia is one such example. He graduated from Harvard University and finished his MBA from Stanford School of Business.

Written by

Deepshikha Punj

preteenPre-primary schooler