Young mothers can learn from their children, recent research has suggested.
Conducted by the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago, the study looked at teenage unwed mothers in particular.
Videos of mothers with their children were taken and shown by social workers to the parents.
According to the lead researcher Victor Bernstein, the parents easily picked up possible changes that could be made to their behaviour from watching themselves and their baby on film.
Dr Bernstein commented: "If a parent observes a child becoming upset when watching the tape, most often the parent identifies what the problem is and what she might try instead."
The team found that a variety of parenting styles can be effective when rearing a child, but that the most important thing is to keep the focus on the child.
"Mothers are not only important to their kids but kids are really important to their mothers," added Dr Bernstein.
© Adfero Ltd
Private treatment news: 5 May 2011
