--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What matters most in a child's…" description: "\"“What matters most in a child's development, they say, is not how much information we can stuff into her brain in the first few years. What matters, in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/paul-tough-17766_child-development_what-matters-most-in-a-child-s-developme_1328421.png" --- # What matters most in a child's development, they say, is… ![“What matters most in a child's development, they say, is not how much information we can stuff into her brain in the first few years. What matters, instead, is whether we are able to help her develop a very different set of qualities, a list that includes persistence, self-control, curiosity…” quote by Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/paul-tough-17766_child-development_what-matters-most-in-a-child-s-developme_1328421.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/paul-tough-17766_child-development_what-matters-most-in-a-child-s-developme_1328421.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/paul-tough-17766_child-development_what-matters-most-in-a-child-s-developme_1328421.png) > ““What matters most in a child's development, they say, is not how much information we can stuff into her brain in the first few years. What matters, instead, is whether we are able to help her develop a very different set of qualities, a list that includes persistence, self-control, curiosity, conscientiousness, grit and self-confidence.”” [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Child development is less about early knowledge accumulation and more about cultivating traits like persistence, self‑control, curiosity, conscientiousness, grit, and confidence. **In simple terms:** Develop character traits over early facts. Key Takeaway Focus on building resilience and curiosity. Themes education child development character building Mood optimistic reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - early childhood programs - school curricula - after‑school clubs Key Concepts growth mindset self‑regulation grit confidence Questions to Reflect On - How can educators nurture curiosity without over‑structuring? - What role does play have in building self‑control? A Different Perspective Traits develop over time and may be influenced by genetics and environment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-development/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Qualities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualities/) [Teaching children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-children/) ## Related quotes > [“Ellington would be growing up in a culture saturated with an idea you might call the cognitive hypothesis: the belief... that success today primarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/ellington-would-be-growing-up-in-a-culture-saturated-with-an-idea-you/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“What matters, instead, is whether we are able to help her develop a very different set of qualities, a list that includes persistence, self-control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/what-matters-instead-is-whether-we-are-able-to-help-her-develop-a-2/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“What matters, instead, is whether we are able to help her develop a very different set of qualities, a list that includes persistence, self-control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/what-matters-instead-is-whether-we-are-able-to-help-her-develop-a/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [What matters most in a child’s development, they say, is not how much information we can stuff into her brain in the first few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/what-matters-most-in-a-child-s-development-they-say-is-not-how-much/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [If every child matters, every child has the right to a good start in life. If every child matters, every child has the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-blair/if-every-child-matters-every-child-has-the-right-to-a-good-start-in/) [Cherie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-blair/) > [The first thing that matters: I am a child of the eighties. I grew up in a neon wonderland of talking horses, compassionate bears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/the-first-thing-that-matters-i-am-a-child-of-the-eighties-i-grew-up/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [“Whenever a person says to you that they are as innocent as lambs in all concerning money, look well after your own money, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/whenever-a-person-says-to-you-that-they-are-as-innocent-as-lambs-in/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Understanding child development takes the emphasis away from the child's character--looking at the child as good or bad. The emphasis is put on behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-galinsky/understanding-child-development-takes-the-emphasis-away-from-the/) [Ellen Galinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-galinsky/) > [“When we hurt children, it is God’s plan we indirectly try to frustrate, since it is for His pleasure that people exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-nzuki/when-we-hurt-children-it-is-god-s-plan-we-indirectly-try-to-frustrate/) [Benjamin Nzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-nzuki/) > [The first essential for the child’s development is concentration. The child who concentrates is immensely happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-first-essential-for-the-child-s-development-is-concentration-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Child development: Most damaging course of action is attempting to keep children from experience or protect them from pain, for it is this time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/child-development-most-damaging-course-of-action-is-attempting-to/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Saying we can't afford to invest in early child development means we're storing up bigger costs in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/saying-we-can-t-afford-to-invest-in-early-child-development-means-we/) [Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/) > [“Child development does not mean developing your child into the person you think they should be, but helping them develop into the best person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/child-development-does-not-mean-developing-your-child-into-the-person/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [“The combination of the Main brain with its central nervous system, and the ancient Animal Brain with its somatic, enteric nervous system in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-char-love/the-combination-of-the-main-brain-with-its-central-nervous-system-and/) [Martha Char Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-char-love/) > [We do not put enough emphasis on early childhood years. We neglect children in this society; as a society we're guilty of child neglect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-babbitt/we-do-not-put-enough-emphasis-on-early-childhood-years-we-neglect/) [Bruce Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-babbitt/) ## More by Paul Tough > [“Most broadly, they refer to the ability to deal with confusing and unpredictable situations and information. One”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/most-broadly-they-refer-to-the-ability-to-deal-with-confusing-and/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“What matters, instead, is whether we are able to help her develop a very different set of qualities, a list that includes persistence, self-control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/what-matters-instead-is-whether-we-are-able-to-help-her-develop-a/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“the child of a supermom who gets lots of extra tutoring and one-on-one support is going to do way better than an average well-loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/the-child-of-a-supermom-who-gets-lots-of-extra-tutoring-and-one-on/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“the best way for a young person to build character is for him to attempt something where there is a real and serious possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/the-best-way-for-a-young-person-to-build-character-is-for-him-to/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“The idea of building grit and building self-control is that you get that through failure,” Randolph told me. “And in most highly academic environments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/the-idea-of-building-grit-and-building-self-control-is-that-you-get/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“Tools of the Mind, by contrast, doesn’t focus much on reading and math abilities. Instead, all of its interventions are intended to help children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/tools-of-the-mind-by-contrast-doesn-t-focus-much-on-reading-and-math/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [Optimists, by contrast, look for specific, limited, short-term explanations for bad events, and as a result, in the face of a setback, they’re more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/optimists-by-contrast-look-for-specific-limited-short-term/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [And in most highly academic environments in the United States, no one fails anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/and-in-most-highly-academic-environments-in-the-united-states-no-one/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“a passionate commitment to a single mission and an unswerving dedication to achieve that mission. She decided she needed to name this quality, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/a-passionate-commitment-to-a-single-mission-and-an-unswerving/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“children were no longer receiving enough cognitive stimulation in the first three years of life, in part because of the increasing number of single-parent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/children-were-no-longer-receiving-enough-cognitive-stimulation-in-the/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“We “activate a physiological system that has evolved for responding to acute physical emergencies,” Sapolsky writes, “but we turn it on for months on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/we-activate-a-physiological-system-that-has-evolved-for-responding-to/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [What if the Secret to Success is Failure?,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/what-if-the-secret-to-success-is-failure/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“Chemistry is not destiny, certainly. But these scientists have demonstrated that the most reliable way to produce an adult who is brave and curious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/chemistry-is-not-destiny-certainly-but-these-scientists-have/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“Researchers, including Michael Meaney and Clancy Blair, have demonstrated that for infants to develop qualities like perseverance and focus, they need a high level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/researchers-including-michael-meaney-and-clancy-blair-have/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [“Think about it,” Spiegel said. “Remember, when I ask you a question, you don’t have to answer right away. But you do have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/think-about-it-spiegel-said-remember-when-i-ask-you-a-question-you/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) [Explore all 36 Paul Tough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) ## More Child development quotes > [We do not put enough emphasis on early childhood years. We neglect children in this society; as a society we're guilty of child neglect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-babbitt/we-do-not-put-enough-emphasis-on-early-childhood-years-we-neglect/) [Bruce Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-babbitt/) > [“The combination of the Main brain with its central nervous system, and the ancient Animal Brain with its somatic, enteric nervous system in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-char-love/the-combination-of-the-main-brain-with-its-central-nervous-system-and/) [Martha Char Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-char-love/) > [“Child development does not mean developing your child into the person you think they should be, but helping them develop into the best person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/child-development-does-not-mean-developing-your-child-into-the-person/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [Saying we can't afford to invest in early child development means we're storing up bigger costs in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/saying-we-can-t-afford-to-invest-in-early-child-development-means-we/) [Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/) > [Child development: Most damaging course of action is attempting to keep children from experience or protect them from pain, for it is this time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/child-development-most-damaging-course-of-action-is-attempting-to/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [The first essential for the child’s development is concentration. The child who concentrates is immensely happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-first-essential-for-the-child-s-development-is-concentration-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“When we hurt children, it is God’s plan we indirectly try to frustrate, since it is for His pleasure that people exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-nzuki/when-we-hurt-children-it-is-god-s-plan-we-indirectly-try-to-frustrate/) [Benjamin Nzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-nzuki/) > [Understanding child development takes the emphasis away from the child's character--looking at the child as good or bad. The emphasis is put on behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-galinsky/understanding-child-development-takes-the-emphasis-away-from-the/) [Ellen Galinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-galinsky/) > [It seems to me if you don't know anything about child development you shouldn't intimate in your 'reporting' that you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/it-seems-to-me-if-you-don-t-know-anything-about-child-development-you/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) > [Closing a public library is child abuse, really, because it hinders child development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/closing-a-public-library-is-child-abuse-really-because-it-hinders/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [In many cases, the reason why our child development centers are not at full capacity is that we have an insufficient number of providers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/in-many-cases-the-reason-why-our-child-development-centers-are-not-at/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis's Head Start Program provides child development and comprehensive wellness services in a safe and nurturing environment. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/the-urban-league-of-metropolitan-st-louis-s-head-start-program/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [“To a child, whatever is being done by adults is good and worth imitating. Many children have embraced societal vices as they emulated adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-nzuki/to-a-child-whatever-is-being-done-by-adults-is-good-and-worth/) [Benjamin Nzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-nzuki/) > [A child is nothing like a racing car. . . . Souping up babies doesn't work that way. The child is what she is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-chess/a-child-is-nothing-like-a-racing-car-souping-up-babies-doesn-t-work/) [Stella Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-chess/) > [“There was no need for a term like ‘magical thinking’ in the Golden Age of Man...there was only genuine everyday magic and mysticism. Children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/there-was-no-need-for-a-term-like-magical-thinking-in-the-golden-age/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) [Browse all 48 Child development quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-development/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What matters most in a child's development, they say, is not how much information we can stuff into her brain in the first few years. 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