A recent study highlights an intriguing finding: even infants can grasp the value of perseverance. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered that babies as young as 15 months can learn about persistence by observing adults tackle challenging tasks.
Published in the journal Science, the research involved 262 infants aged 13 to 18 months. The babies were divided into groups to watch an adult perform tasks, such as extracting a rubber frog from a container or unhooking a keychain from a carabiner. In one group, the adult exaggerated their struggle, taking approximately 30 seconds to complete the task. In another group, the adult finished the task effortlessly in just ten seconds. A third experiment encouraged babies to activate a music box.
The results showed that infants who witnessed adults grappling with a task were more likely to demonstrate perseverance when faced with their own challenging toys. In contrast, those who observed quick, easy successes from adults displayed significantly less determination. It’s amusing to think, though, if those adults had faced a Barbie box secured with layers of plastic and a multitude of twist ties, the lesson learned might have been something along the lines of “fuuuucccckkkkk” through gritted teeth.
Furthermore, babies exhibited greater motivation when the adult engaged them by using their name, establishing eye contact, or speaking in a high-pitched, attention-grabbing tone. Although the study didn’t determine how lasting this effect might be, it underscores the importance of demonstrating persistence as a parent. As we navigate challenges—be it math homework with our elementary schoolers or other tasks—our reactions can inadvertently teach our children to either persevere or give up.
This research serves as a reminder that our children are always observing us. Our actions often convey more than our words, reinforcing the notion that hard work does indeed pay off.
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Summary
A new study reveals that babies as young as 15 months can learn about persistence by watching adults tackle challenges, demonstrating that parental actions significantly influence children’s attitudes towards hard work.