When parental aspirations aren’t enough: An exploration of the importance of parental aspirations in the socioeconomic gradient in child outcomes

This study explores how parents shape their children’s early learning and wellbeing — and where the biggest differences begin.

Using data from the Growing Up in New Zealand study, which has followed children since before birth, the researchers tracked how family circumstances link to children’s literacy, numeracy and social and emotional skills by age four and a half.

They found a clear pattern: children of more educated mothers tend to show stronger early skills. But the driver is not mainly what parents hope for their children. It is what they do with them.

Parental involvement — time spent reading, talking, and engaging in learning — consistently predicts early literacy and numeracy. The results hold across families from different ethnic backgrounds.

This research is also published on the Ministry of Social Development's website. 

DOI - 10.29310/WP.2023.13

Citation

Watson, Nicholas and Isabelle Sin. 2023. "When parental aspirations aren’t enough: An exploration of the importance of parental aspirations in the socioeconomic gradient in child outcomes." Motu Working Paper 23-13. Motu Economic and Public Policy Research. Wellington, New Zealand.