'Five-a-day the answer' to giving youngsters best chance in life

PARENTS should follow a "five-a-day" approach to bringing up their children to give them the best chance in life, according to a new report.

The advice - based on the campaign to encourage people to eat five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables each day - aims to help parents remember to take part in daily activities which can help their children develop.

The report, published by think-tank CentreForum, said there was "overwhelming" evidence that intervention in a child's earliest years is dramatically more effective than later remedial efforts at school age.

Chris Paterson, the report's author, said it was clear that the most important factor influencing a child's intellectual and social development is the quality of parenting and care they receive.

Mr Paterson cited evidence suggesting that children from poorer backgrounds are much less likely to experience a "rich home learning environment" than those growing up in wealthier households. This is a "crucial factor" in blocking social mobility, he said.

Studies showed that more affluent parents spend more time reading to their children and talking to them and are more likely to praise them than tell them off, said Mr Paterson.

The report recommended five steps for parents to take each day to help their child. They were reading to, playing with and talking to your child for set times each day. Also adopting a positive attitude towards them and feeding them a nutritious diet.