Four in ten children fail to connect with mum and dad

Laura Clark in the Daily Mail reported on Baby Bonds, a new Sutton Trust report.

As many as four in ten young children have such a weak bond with their parents they are unable to tell them they are upset, new research found today.

Poor parenting in the first three years of life can hold children back at school and lead to behaviour problems such as hyperactivity.

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The findings came in research by academics in Britain and the United States on behalf of the Sutton Trust, a charity promoting social mobility.

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Conor Ryan, director of research at the Sutton Trust said: ‘Better bonding between parents and babies could lead to more social mobility, as there is such a clear link to education, behaviour and future employment. The educational divide emerges early in life, with a 19 month school readiness gap between the most and least advantaged children by the age of five.

‘This report clearly identifies the fundamental role secure attachment could have in narrowing that school readiness gap and improving children’s life chances. More support from health visitors, children’s centres and local authorities in helping parents improve how they bond with young children could play a role in narrowing the education gap.’

Read the full article here.