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Original poster

Do you think children ‘inherit’ academic talents?

128 replies

Thesefourwhitewalls · 10/02/2022 08:37

Probably the worst title in the world but I suppose it wouldn’t be a shock if (say) Marcus Rashford had a child who was very sporty, or if Adele’s child showed some talent for singing.

Does this extend to traditional areas of the curriculum? DH is brilliant at maths and earns really well as a result. I am utterly shit at maths and I can barely add up. Just wondering if DS will take after DH or me! Or if it’s not something you inherit?

OP posts:
Original poster
Thesefourwhitewalls · 10/02/2022 09:19

Sob, poor DS!

OP posts:
TooMuchPaper · 10/02/2022 09:23

I would say so. DS excelled across the board in school (similar to me and my brother); dd not quite as good at maths but excellent at languages. Both very musical (as is dh).
However there were lots of activities that nurtured them as toddlers and young children and at primary and secondary ages we were able to provide them with opportunities to develop those talents which helped enormously.

Runningupthecurtains · 10/02/2022 09:23

I think we put more emphasis in inheritance of talent in things like sport, music and acting than may actually be the case. Successful sports people, musicians and actors almost certainly have a genetic predisposition but they need drive, focus and a big streak of luck to succeed. Their children will be often be raised with far greater access to coaching/lessons than the average child but also the belief that that thing can be a viable career choice whereas parents outside of the arts/sports are more likely to regards them as hobbies/interests rather than actual potential careers and may steer their children into other paths. If you are born into the Redgrave or Fox family you are far more likely to think that acting is a potential career than if your parents are in insurance. Even then it is rare of the child of a 'superstar' to be as big a deal as their famous parent.

lborgia · 10/02/2022 09:24

We know that academic talent is very strongly inherited. Musical talent is about 50% inherited. Which explains why my husband and I are distinctly average in this area, despite 4 very musical parents, and at least 2 very musical grandparents... our 2 kids are extremely musical, despite no interest/ pressure from us whatsoever.

Both children are far brighter than us, and it's clear that it's not just about environment, because they both have subjects they have a gift for, but have no interest in.

They both baffle me, as they're so confident in their abilities, whereas I was always embarrassed if I did well.

I have an overview of 3 generations with many specific areas in common, but very different parenting and wealth. The areas of excellence are still very clearly the same.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 10/02/2022 09:25

Absolutely. DS1 has DH's natural aptitude for maths and computer science, DS2 has my musical abilities and is a good all-rounder like I was at school. DD is less academic but definitely has my creative streak. DH and I were both good at English and all our children have been really good readers from a young age.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 10/02/2022 09:32

My DDs have also inherited dyslexia from their father. Since I was taught to read at 3yo by my 5yo brother, my Mum has struggled with that. Fortunately they are willing to work hard.

Dont let your son know your fear. Positive environment counts for a lot.

RowanAlong · 10/02/2022 09:41

Best thing you can do to help your dc with maths (to support him whether or not he has the genetics to be good at it) is to start using positive language around maths! Don’t let him hear you say, it’s hard, or I’m no good at maths, or I can’t add up! Not sure what age he is but maybe relearn it with him through play, workbooks, helping with homework, etc. Encourage games that involve adding, times tables etc, even if you are out of your own comfort zone sometimes...

RowanAlong · 10/02/2022 09:42

Ooh sorry cross posted with aroundtheworld ...

Phrowzunn · 10/02/2022 09:42

Look up the ‘g factor’ or ‘general intelligence’ - quite an interesting theory. Apparently very inheritable!

ApricotPeony · 10/02/2022 09:44

@Calist

Yes intelligence is highly heritable. This has been shown in twin and adoption studies very clearly.

There is no guarantee that the child of an intelligent person will be intelligent but it is far more likely.

Yes it is. As per this post
Phrowzunn · 10/02/2022 09:45

*heritable that should say 😳
I’ve apparently got very low ‘g’ 😂

rainrainraincamedowndowndown · 10/02/2022 09:48

Yes.

MangshorJhol · 10/02/2022 09:51

But being good at maths is also not the only marker of intelligence.

I'm average at maths, DH is outstanding at it (he has a PhD in something that used some genuinely complex math). I have a humanities PhD. We are also both academics. Our kids are young but bright. They are surrounded by books, and academic conversation and we can help them with their work, but also foster interests outside of the school curriculum. Being dragged to museums and churches is not enough- it's about being able to develop the ability to think critically. Simply staring at glorious architecture isn't going to do that.
One of my kids is seriously gifted at math- but he and DH talk about it a lot, and DH knows how to foster that interest beyond the curriculum.

DaffodilDandilion · 10/02/2022 09:52

I don’t know, both exH and I did very well academically, used to have memberships to Mensa and successful careers.

None of our lovely DC seem to be any better than average at school. They have their own strengths but academics don’t seem to be their thing.

Skeam · 10/02/2022 09:54

Studies suggest so, yes, but I think it can be hard to see ‘in the wild’ because of social inequality etc — eg both my parents were only semi-literate in my childhood, were from deprived backgrounds, and no one that we know of on either side of the family stayed at school after the age of twelve or thirteen because their income was needed. But I insisted on staying at school, despite opposition, got a scholarship to university, excelled, and ended up with multiple postgraduate degrees.

My parents frequently shake their heads and wonder ‘where I got it from’, because lack of opportunity meant no one before me to a shot at any kind of intellectual achievement.

LlamaLucy · 10/02/2022 10:01

Yes, I think it’s inherited - plus, the clever parents teach and coach their kids and have more money to afford PCs and tutors, so there’s a plethora of factors. When you meet the parents of a child… it’s rarely a surprise!

MarshaBradyo · 10/02/2022 10:04

Yes it can be passed down

But people who aren’t should try and avoid negative narrative eg I’m terrible at maths etc

Not saying you will op but sometimes maths etc gets a hard spin

DartmoorChef · 10/02/2022 10:07

I think it is relative in that parents with higher intelligence are more likely to encourage and teach their children. My DP is one of 4. Both parents in very good academic jobs, 3 out of 4 children very intelligent, youngest isn't thick but nowhere near the same level as her siblings.

When I was at school the children from more affluent homes with parents in good jobs were always the higher achievers whereas the children from poorer backgrounds with parents who were not working or in factory jobs (Lancashire mill town) were usually in the lower levels. Obviously, there were some exceptions on both sides, but I do think so social background is a major factor too.

dottydodah · 10/02/2022 10:07

Someone once said that often the talent will skip a generation . My DS has a MSC and is brilliant at STEM subjects.DH maths not too bad ,but I Find it hard and struggled to pass my GCSE in maths .

dottydodah · 10/02/2022 10:09

My FIL was very clever and good at Maths as was my own Dad too .

TakeMe2Insanity · 10/02/2022 10:10

It’s the concept of nature v nurture and the lifestyle that goes with them.

In our house we like reading, we have books around and always have time to tell a story. Similarly, dh very good at maths and can turn anything into a fun maths game so maths isn’t a chore for dc. Dc is good at maths but then he’s learnt more because of fun games. Dh not naturally sporty but dc is so we’ve done all we can to encourage and nurture. All is possible providing you encourage it.

So, Wayne Rooney is likely to have a son good at football but if he has one that has the desire/skill set to be a nuclear scientist then he should be encouraged and nurtured regardless of the parents abilities.

Skeam · 10/02/2022 10:10

@LlamaLucy

Yes, I think it’s inherited - plus, the clever parents teach and coach their kids and have more money to afford PCs and tutors, so there’s a plethora of factors. When you meet the parents of a child… it’s rarely a surprise!
You see, that’s why it’s puzzling in my case. My parents were barely literate in my childhood — certainly no help with homework, no books in the house, a terror of anything to do with my schooling, pressure to get me to leave at 15 — and yet I always did well, and ended up with an Oxford DPhil. It’s possible my parents were potentially academically clever, but they never had the opportunity to find out, and they certainly never helped or encouraged or brought in tutoring for me. None of my grandparents stayed at school past 13.
MrsMariaReynolds · 10/02/2022 10:17

My son's dad is a senior academic, has a PhD in a very math-heavy field, etc, etc, yet our son is in bottom sets of just about everything, including maths. So...not necessarily.

ExConstance · 10/02/2022 10:20

I have an old school friend who is from a family of 4 girls. All of the sisters and the parents excelled at maths, languages and music, which I think need a similar sort of intelligence. I'm not sure artistic ability has been mentioned but that seems to be inherited, another friend of mine is from a very art family and has felt inhibited from displaying this, but in retirement she has started sketching and her pictures are amazing.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/02/2022 10:20

@BringBackCoffeeCreams

Intelligence is inherited from the mother apparently:

www.independent.co.uk/news/science/children-intelligence-iq-mother-inherit-inheritance-genetics-genes-a7345596.html

I say 'apparently' as DS(8) is a proper maths genius. DH and BIL are Oxbridge scientists and mathematicians whereas I barely scraped through my A levels.

I'd have been thick as mince if that were true. There's a reason why the woman decided she couldn't bloody stand me from the point at which my academic abilities clearly exceeded hers - and whilst I was undoubtedly a bit of dick aged 13, I don't think that I was that much of one aged 6 when she said she hated me because I was 'clever, not pretty and no good at sport (and not a boy)'.