《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词4500》29 Superbabies Aren't Happy Babies

　　Unit 29

Superbabies Aren't Happy Babies

They are drilling their infants in math and reading skills, using flashcards, books and videotapes. They are enrolling 1 their 3-year-old in tennis lessons and entering their 4-yrar-olds in beauty contest and athletic 2 competitions. Now they are trying to educate their kids in the womb with phone-like learning devices.

They are parents who want their children to be superbabies. As a distinct parental 3 species, they have gained increasing attention in recent years, even as their overzealousness has been condemned 4 by many child-development experts. But no one has presented evidence against the superbaby ethic 5 in a comprehensive, authoritative 6 way --  until now, in a new book by Dr. Elkind, a child psychologist.

"These pushy 7 parents are engaging in a form or miseducation," said Dr. Elkind, "I'm alarmed by what I see. Though superbaby phenomenon was first noted 8 in upper-middle-class families several years ago, now less advantaged families seem to be adopting the attitudes of wealthy parents. Increasing numbers of American youngsters are pressed to think, feel, and behave like older children and adults."

The long-term consequences of parental efforts are signs of stress -- stomachaches and headaches, eating and sleeping problems and changes in children's ordinary patterns of behavior. Preschoolers' self-esteem can also b diminished since te tendency of children is to blame themselves when they can't do an impossible task set by an adult. There can be other more damaging effects. Dr. Elkind cites research findings suggesting that the emphasis on academics for young children is contributing to depression among elementary school pupils. More insidiously 9, when adults decide at an early age what children should learn, it can affect children's sense of industry: setting goals, getting a job done and having a sense of accomplishment 10.

It's healthy to want a child to excel and do well. But you do that b providing a stimulating 11 environment, rather than pushing a small child to master skills. Studies by developmental psychology 12 through their own experiences. Play is very important to learning, and formal instruction if introduced too early, can inhibit 13 learning. "The whole idea that earlier is better is just wrong. Children at older ages can master skills better, with greater ease."

Many parents feel that a difficult aspect of the superbaby trend is peer pressure. Elkind hopes his book will give support to parents who want to resist the trend, so that when a neighbor says, "Why isn't your 9-month-old in a swimming class?" parents can say, "It's a wholly unnecessary and potentially dangerous idea."