Getting parents involved in their child’s education is a goal just about every school strives for. So, we don’t need to rehash why it’s been proven to be so critical to the academic success of a student, nor why it’s been so difficult to achieve at times (though, if you want all that background check out my story in the ASBJ archives

Most savvy educators know that involved parents can be the lynchpin to keeping students on track. Now, researchers have found that parental involvement can have a significant impact on a particular group of kids: the ones that grow up, literally, fast.

Studies have long ago confirmed that early maturing girls often engage in risky behaviors like drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, violence, and delinquency. Yet experts have been unable to determine how to halt the unfortunate connection. The findings from this most recent study may provide a start.

Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Texas, Houston; and the Rand Corporation, surveyed 330 fifth-grade girls and their parents from each of the aforementioned cities. About a quarter of the girls had physically matured early, meaning they had begun menstruating before the typical age of 11 years old.

Researchers asked the girls and their families about the former’s behavior and the latter’s level of involvement in their personal life. Their answers indicated that physically advanced girls who had parents that weren’t as involved, acted out more, bullying and starting fights.

The study, published in this month’s edition of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine determined that parents need to set limits, know who their kids’ friends are, and what they do in their spare time, but also show affection, be supportive and talk about uncomfortable subjects like sex and drugs.

Naomi Dillon, Senior Editor