[OldFriend]

No doubt there will be much gnashing of the teeth over this common sense article. What a sad commentary that this is considered newsworthy.

[GOPJ]

Common sense trumps liberal propaganda bump...

[Tax-chick]

They seem to be a little biased toward the rich, don't they?

[TaxRelief]

You know, I missed the clue in the article that this had an underlying tone of liberalism. There it was glaring at me from the middle of the screen.

...said Isabel Sawhill, The Brookings Institution. "This volume speaks..."

My guess is this book will prove to be a fine example of "psuedo-conservatism". See post #16.

[mikegi]

What is "intelligence", anyway? Barring demonstrable brain damage, how are the brains of intelligent people different from less intelligent ones? Given two brains, is there a scientific way of determining which belonged to the more intelligent person (excluding those with obvious brain damage)?

To me, it seems like success (which is where the rubber meets the road here) is determined more by a combination of confidence, determination, and intelligence. For example, I was obviously less intelligent than many of the people where I worked yet was at least as successful because I worked like a dog and took risks. Maybe I was too dumb to completely realize the risks I was taking with my career!

Even after having a child, I don't know the answer to the questions raised by this article. Our daughter, who turns four at the end of September, soaks up information like a sponge. It's amazing. She is highly motivated, almost to excess. Is that because our the environment we created for her (doing puzzles and colors at age two, alphabet and writing this year, etc.) or is it innate? I really don't know. She had an extremely difficult start in life - a complicated pregnancy (PPROM at 17 weeks, complete placenta previa), delivered by c-section a month early, and low birth weight from the complications (4lbs 11oz). Yet, on the numerous ultrasounds we saw how determined she was to make it. On one ultrasound, the tech said "Oh boy, you better get your rest. This one's a lively one!".

[nmh]

Pure common sense. Having said that I'm sure atleast on FRer will think this information is startling. I say that because of a article posted on losing weight and some were nearly blown away at the common sense mentioned.

[nmh]

So much for "daycare" kids. They won't get what they need there by paid strangers.

[Johnbalaya]

most this stuff was in my Child Development psychology textbook in college...i'm surprised it's just getting publicity now...i guess the came out with more studies supporting the earlier findings.

[HitmanLV]

My IQ tests at around 140 (136-144 or so), and of the four suggestions, I can say I only benefitted from one - good nutrition. I was not breast fed, nor got much parental instruction (by the time I passed the 10th grade I had more schooling than either of my folks, though they were much smarter and wiser than I am!), though they did stay on top of my schooling, checked my homework, etc. Love, affection, and respect? I have an italian mother, which is to say that I thought my name was 'idiot' for the first 35 years of my life! ;-)

[Ciexyz]

One of the best things my parents did for me was to read to me. I remember them reading me to sleep with Golden Books. Later they took me to the bookmobile when it came around, and I walked out with an armful of kiddie books every time.