A massive new study of thousands of kids says this one experience gives them a very big advantage

I admit: I’ve spent a lot of time since becoming a parent trying to figure out what cutting-edge research and science have to say about raising successful kids. I also admit that my wife and I have tried to put the fruits of that research to work. Example 1: Move to the best neighborhood you can afford, even if it means you have the smallest house on the block. Check. Example 2: Embrace the “run to their side” mode of parenting versus the “let them figure it all out on their own” model. Check. Example 3: Praise effort, not results. Seriously, Carol Dweck, a psychology professor at Stanford University, could have built an entire career on backing up this theory alone. Check. One bit of research that inspired me, however, came from a small but compelling study out of Montreal. Researchers found that boys whose teachers described them as more attentive and prosocial at age 5 or 6 went on to earn significantly more money as adults. The lead researcher also pointed to quality daycare and targeted support as ways to improve long-term outcomes for children who struggled early. A few points worth noting about that study: First, replicating this in the U.S. would have been difficult, becau…

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