As researchers learn more about how children’s intelligence
develops, they are increasingly surprised by the power of parents. The power of
the school has been replaced by the home. To begin with, all the factors which
are part of intelligence--the child’s understanding of language, learning
patterns, curiosity--are established well before the child enters school begins,
children’s achievements have been far more influenced by parents than by
teachers. This is particularly true about learning that is language-related. The
second school rather than the home is given credit for variations in achievement
in subjects such as science. In view of their power, it’s sad to
see many parents not making the most of their child’s intelligence. Until
recently parents had been warned by educators who asked them not to educate
their children. Many teachers now realize that children cannot be educated only
at school and parents are being asked to contribute both before and after the
child enters school. parents have been particularly afraid to
teach reading at home. Of course, children shouldn’t be pushed to read by their
parents, but educators have discovered that reading is best taught individually
and the easiest place to do this is at home. Many four-and- five-year-olds who
have been shown a few letters and taught their sounds will compose single words
of their own with them even before they have been taught to read. The author suggests in the last paragraph that parents should be encouraged to ______________.