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New 'Click' antenatal classes prepare children for school

Date:
September 11, 2014
Source:
University of Hertfordshire
Summary:
Children whose parents attended a one-off antenatal class called 'Click’ are at a significant advantage in their cognitive and motor skills compared to children whose parents attended routine antenatal care, according to a new study.
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Children whose parents attended a one-off antenatal class called 'Click' are at a significant advantage in their cognitive and motor skills compared to children whose parents attended routine antenatal care, according to a new study by the University of Hertfordshire.

This research led by Dr Kondel-Laws, Principal Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire revealed that Click classes developed a secure type of attachment between parents and their children. It led to the children being more ready for school life, often settling in quicker and being able to adjust to holding and working with stationary such as pencils.

Dr Kondel-Laws commented: "These classes have been designed to provide prospective parents with practical knowledge and a step-by-step guide on how to build relationship skills with their baby in the first two years of life, the information the parents receive is influenced by research into brain function, but fundamentally promotes strong parent-infant bonds. "

The research revealed that 'Click' classes delivered before the baby was born, not only improved the parents ability to think about and manage what their baby is communicating to them, but they also reported enjoying their babies more. When these children were again seen around 3 years of age, one key area that differentiated the two groups in terms of emotional development was that 'Click' parents reported their child to be 'less clingy' than those who had received routine antenatal care.

Dr Kondel-Laws added: "For children to become independent learners in the world, they must first achieve relationships that foster secure attachment as a base to explore from. In the school environment, having skills in understanding the communications around them as well as a having range of emotional experiences to draw upon and the physical ability to act on instructions/intentions; all allows the child to start the learning journey from a place of confidence, curiosity and interest as opposed to feeling fearful and unsure."

Metaphorically speaking, this one-off 3 hour class acts like a vaccination against the possibility of future poor mental health and not achieving full potential.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Hertfordshire. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Kondel-Laws et al. Sensitivity is not enough: securing attachment from one generation to the next. Child and Family Clinical Psychology, September 2014

Cite This Page:

University of Hertfordshire. "New 'Click' antenatal classes prepare children for school." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 September 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140911093334.htm>.
University of Hertfordshire. (2014, September 11). New 'Click' antenatal classes prepare children for school. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140911093334.htm
University of Hertfordshire. "New 'Click' antenatal classes prepare children for school." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140911093334.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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