--- title: How To Make Your Kids Smarter: 10 Steps Backed By Science description: I’ve explored the science behind what makes kids happier, what type of parenting works best and what makes for joyful families. But what makes children... canonical: https://time.com/12086/how-to-make-your-kids-smarter-10-steps-backed-by-science/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-03-04T10:45:46.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:44:23.652Z article:section: Ideas og:title: How To Make Your Kids Smarter: 10 Steps Backed By Science og:description: I’ve explored the science behind what makes kids happier, what type of parenting works best and what makes for joyful families. But what makes children... og:url: https://time.com/12086/how-to-make-your-kids-smarter-10-steps-backed-by-science/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta6585695fa624e0b/698683ca3bc9990a581a2265/smart-kids.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Young boy writes math equations on chalkboard og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How To Make Your Kids Smarter: 10 Steps Backed By Science twitter:description: I’ve explored the science behind what makes kids happier, what type of parenting works best and what makes for joyful families. But what makes children... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta6585695fa624e0b/698683ca3bc9990a581a2265/smart-kids.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How To Make Your Kids Smarter: 10 Steps Backed By Science ## Video: How Animals Learn Language [Watch (HLS stream): How Animals Learn Language](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/IB9XTqaU.m3u8) (3:13)  _Published 2010-08-06. TIME science writer, Jeffrey Kluger visits the Great Ape Trust to meet a remarkable Bonobo ape named Kanzi._ by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 4, 2014 10:45 AM UTC  Young boy writes math equations on chalkboard Young boy writes math equations on chalkboardJustin Lewis—Getty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 4, 2014 10:45 AM UTC I’ve explored the science behind [what makes kids happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/happy-kids/), what [type of parenting works best](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/good-parenting-skills/) and what makes for [joyful families](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-have-a-happy-family/). But **what makes children — from babies up through the teen years — smarter?** Here are 10 things science says can help: ## 1) Music Lessons Plain and simple: **research show music lessons** [**make kids smarter**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/07/should-everyone-be-required-to-learn-a-musica/)**:** --- > “” --- **In fact musical training helps** **_everyone_** **,** [**young and old**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/07/should-everyone-be-required-to-learn-a-musica/)**:** --- > “” --- (More on what the music you love says about you [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/music-love/).) ## 2) The Dumb Jock Is A Myth Dumb jocks are dumb because they spend more time on the field than in the library. But what if you make sure your child devotes time to both? **Being in good shape** [**increases your ability to learn**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/get-smarter/)**. After exercise people pick up new vocabulary words 20% faster.** Via [Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **A 3 month exercise regimen increased bloodflow to the part of the** [**brain**](http://topics.time.com/brain/) **focused on memory and learning by 30%.** Via [Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- (More on how exercise can make you and your kids smarter and happier [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/get-smarter/).) ## 3) Don’t Read To Your Kids, Read With Them Got a little one who is learning to read? **Don’t let them just stare at the pictures in a book while you do all the reading.** **Call attention to the words. Read with them, not to them.** [Research shows](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/07/reading-to-your-kids-is-great-but-heres-why-y/) it helps build their reading skills: --- > “” --- (More on things most parents do wrong [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/07/10-things-most-parents-are-dead-wrong-about-738/).) ## 4) Sleep Deprivation Makes Kids Stupid **Missing an hour of** [**sleep**](http://topics.time.com/sleep/) **turns a sixth grader’s brain into that of a fourth grader.** Via [NurtureShock](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0054U5ENY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0054U5ENY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **There is a correlation between grades and average amount of sleep.** Via [NurtureShock](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0054U5ENY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0054U5ENY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- (More on how to sleep better [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/sleep-astronauts/).) ## 5) IQ Isn’t Worth Much Without Self-Discipline [**Self-discipline beats IQ**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/03/whats-better-than-iq-at-determining-who-will/) **at predicting who will be successful in life.** From Charles Duhigg’s excellent book [The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400069289/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400069289): --- > “” --- **Grades have more to do with** [**conscientiousness**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/personality-trait-determine-future/) **than raw smarts.** Via [How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547564651/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0547564651&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **Who does best in life? Kids with** [**grit**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/secret-success-not-giving-up/)**.** Via [Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594484805/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20). --- > “” --- (More on how to improve self-discipline [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/increase-self-control/).) ## 6) Learning Is An Active Process **Baby Einstein and braintraining games** [**don’t work**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/11/do-baby-einstein-and-similar-media-actually-m/)**.** **In fact, there’s reason to believe they make kids** **_dumber_** **.** Via [Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0067NCR1E/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0067NCR1E&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Real learning isn’t passive, it’s active. What does [Dan Coyle](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/most-successful-people/), author of [The Talent Code](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026OR1UK/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0026OR1UK&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20) recommend? [**Stop merely reading and test yourself**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/most-successful-people/)**:** --- > “” --- (More on how to teach your child to be a hard worker in school [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-author-cal-newport-on-how-you-can-become-an-expert-and-why-you-should-not-follow-your-passion/).) ## 7) Treats Can Be A Good Thing — At The Right Time Overall, it would be better if kids ate healthy all the time. **Research shows eating makes a difference in** [**children’s grades**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/10/whats-the-best-way-to-study/)**:** --- > “” --- There are always exceptions. No kid eats healthy all the time. But the irony is that **kids often get “bad” foods at the wrong time.** [**Research**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/02/can-coffee-and-a-donut-improve-brainpower/) **shows caffeine and sugar can be brain boosters:** --- > “” --- They’re also potent rewards kids love. **So if kids are going to occasionally eat candy and soda maybe it’s better to give it to them while they study then when they’re relaxing.** (More on the best way for kids to study [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/10/whats-the-best-way-to-study/).) ## 8) Happy Kids = Successful Kids **Happier kids are more likely to turn into successful, accomplished adults.** Via [Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00338QEN8/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00338QEN8&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- And what’s the first step in creating happier kids? Being a [happy parent](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/08/do-happy-moms-have-better-kids/). (More on how to raise happy kids [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/happy-kids/).) ## 9) Peer Group Matters **Your genetics and the genetics of your partner have a huge effect on your kids. But the way you raise your kids?** **Not nearly as much.** Via Malcolm Gladwell’s [The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316346624/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0316346624&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **So what does have an enormous affect on your children’s behavior? Their** [**peer group**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/parents-matter/)**.** We usually only talk about [peer pressure](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/are-your-friends-the-easiest-route-to-self-im/) when it’s a negative but more often than not, it’s a [positive](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/how-to-be-a-better-parent/). Living in a nice neighborhood, going to solid [schools](http://topics.time.com/schools/) and making sure your children hang out with good kids can make a huge difference. **What’s the easiest way for a college student to improve their GPA? Pick a smart roommate.** Via [The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307591549/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307591549): --- > “” --- (More on the how others affect your behavior without you realizing it [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/science-of-karma/).) ## 10) Believe In Them **Believing your kid is smarter than average makes a difference.** When teachers were told certain kids were sharper, those kids did better — even though the kids were selected at random. Via [The Heart of Social Psychology: A Backstage View of a Passionate Science](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0669211443/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0669211443): --- > “” --- ## Sum Up 1. **Music Lessons** 2. **The Dumb Jock Is A Myth** 3. **Don’t Read To Your Kids, Read With Them** 4. **Sleep Deprivation Makes Kids Stupid** 5. **IQ Isn’t Worth Much Without Self-Discipline** 6. **Learning Is An Active Process** 7. **Treats Can Be a Good Thing — At The Right Time** 8. **Happy Kids = Successful Kids** 9. **Peer Group Matters** 10. **Believe In Them** One final note: Intelligence isn’t _everything_. Without ethics and empathy really smart people can be scary. As [P.J. O’Rourke](http://www.amazon.com/P.-J.-ORourke/e/B000AP7YYU/?%5Fencoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1393266387&sr=1-2-ent&tag=spacforrent-20) once said: --- > “” --- So if you want to learn how to raise a happier kid go [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/happy-kids/) and a more well-behaved kid go [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/good-parenting-skills/). I hope this helps your child be brilliant. Related posts: [Good Parenting Skills: 7 Research-Backed Ways to Raise Kids Right](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/good-parenting-skills/) [How To Have A Happy Family – 7 Tips Backed By Research](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-have-a-happy-family/) [How To Raise Happy Kids – 10 Steps Backed By Science](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/happy-kids/) **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/03/how-to-make-your-kids-smarter/)**_. Join 45K+ readers. Get a free weekly update via email_** [**_here_**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**_._** _Read next:_ [_The Secret to Learning a Foreign Language as an Adult_](http://time.com/3453841/the-secret-to-learning-a-foreign-language-as-an-adult/?xid=time%5Freadnext) [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article) ### See the 10 Healthiest Cities to Live in America  Honolulu, Hawaii Best Place for Lifelong Health The heavenly climate helps, but the key to well-being here also includes enviable health care and a rich cultural tradition of looking out for one another. Colin Anderson—Blend Images/Corbis  San Francisco Bay Area, Calif. Best Place for Eating Right. The "farm to table" movement began here. The region's bounty of produce and year-round growing season make eating healthy—and local—a natural. Getty Images  Burlington, Vt. Best Place for Raising Healthy Kids This New England city offers great schools, excellent pediatric care, loads of culture and limitless options for healthy outdoor fun all year long. Matt Hogan/www.mphoganphoto.com  Silicon Valley, Calif. Best Place for Workplace Wellness With treadmill desks, meetings on bikes, time off for creativity, and gobs of organic food, tech titans are reinventing how to stay healthy on the job. Jim Wilson—The New York Times/Redux  Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Best Place for Aging Well Yes, it can be cold. But with a plethora of stimulating activities and a robust web of support, the Twin Cities prove that growing old doesn't mean slowing down. Getty Images  Denver and Boulder, Colo. Best Place for Keeping Fit The urge to get outside and get moving is contagious in these Rocky Mountain cities, where physical challenge is built into the landscape. 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