TED2017
Helen Pearson: Lessons from the longest study on human development
海倫皮爾森: 一項最長期的人類發展研究教導了我們什麼？
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在過去七十年，英國的科學家一直在研究數千名孩童的一生，試圖找出為什麼有些人最後快樂又健康，有些卻過得很艱苦。這是世界上人類發展研究中最長的一個研究，他們是世上被研究最透徹的一群人，這些研究能夠改變我們生活、學習，和養育子女的方式。科學新聞工作者海倫皮爾森回顧了這項了不起的研究，並分享了一些重要的發現，以及關於人生和良好養育方式的幾個簡單事實。
Helen Pearson - Science journalist, editor, author
Helen Pearson's book, "The Life Project," tells the extraordinary story of the longest-running study of human development in the world. Full bio
Helen Pearson's book, "The Life Project," tells the extraordinary story of the longest-running study of human development in the world. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
Today I want to confess something to you,
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今天，我要向各位承認一件事，
00:17
but first of all I'm going to ask you
a couple of questions.
a couple of questions.
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但首先，我要先問你們一些問題。
00:20
How many people here have children?
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在座有多少人有孩子？
00:23
And how many of you are confident
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有多少人有信心
00:25
that you know how
to bring up your children
to bring up your children
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知道如何用正確的方式
00:27
in exactly the right way?
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來養育你的孩子？
00:28
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
00:32
OK, I don't see too many hands
going up on that second one,
going up on that second one,
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好，第二個問題沒有很多人舉手，
00:35
and that's my confession, too.
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我要承認的也是這件事。
00:36
I've got three boys;
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我有三個兒子；
00:38
they're three, nine and 12.
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分別 3 歲、9 歲、12 歲。
00:39
And like you, and like most parents,
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我和你們……和大部分父母一樣，
00:42
the honest truth is I have
pretty much no idea what I'm doing.
pretty much no idea what I'm doing.
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老實說我真的不知道我在做什麼。
00:45
I want them to be
happy and healthy in their lives,
happy and healthy in their lives,
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我想要讓孩子一生都快樂、健康，
00:48
but I don't know what I'm supposed to do
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但我並不知道我該怎麼做，
才能確保他們能快樂和健康。
00:50
to make sure they are happy and healthy.
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很多書提供了各種意見，
有些還互相矛盾，
有些還互相矛盾，
00:52
There's so many books
offering all kinds of conflicting advice,
offering all kinds of conflicting advice,
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00:55
it can be really overwhelming.
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這種書多到不行。
00:56
So I've spent most of their lives
just making it up as I go along.
just making it up as I go along.
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所以，他們大部分的人生，
我都是邊摸索邊養大的。
我都是邊摸索邊養大的。
01:01
However, something changed me
a few years ago,
a few years ago,
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然而，幾年前，有件事改變了我，
01:04
when I came across a little secret
that we have in Britain.
that we have in Britain.
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我偶然發現我們英國有一個小秘密。
01:07
It's helped me become more confident
about how I bring up my own children,
about how I bring up my own children,
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它協助我對如何養育
孩子變得更有信心，
孩子變得更有信心，
01:10
and it's revealed a lot about
how we as a society can help all children.
how we as a society can help all children.
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也有很多關於我們社會
要如何協助所有孩子的資訊。
要如何協助所有孩子的資訊。
01:14
I want to share that secret
with you today.
with you today.
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今天我想和大家分享這個秘密。
01:18
For the last 70 years,
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過去七十年，
01:20
scientists in Britain have been following
thousands of children through their lives
thousands of children through their lives
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英國的科學家一直在追蹤
數千名孩童的一生，
數千名孩童的一生，
01:24
as part of an incredible scientific study.
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並整理出一項了不起的科學研究。
01:27
There's nothing quite like it
anywhere else in the world.
anywhere else in the world.
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世界其它國家都沒有這樣的研究。
01:30
Collecting information
on thousands of children
on thousands of children
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要收集數千名孩童的資料
是件非常強大的事情，
01:33
is a really powerful thing to do,
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因為那意味著，我們可以將那些
01:34
because it means we can compare
the ones who say,
the ones who say,
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在學校表現出色，
或長大後健康、快樂、有錢的人，
或長大後健康、快樂、有錢的人，
01:37
do well at school or end up healthy
or happy or wealthy as adults,
or happy or wealthy as adults,
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01:40
and the ones who struggle much more,
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和碰到比較多困境的人做比較，
01:42
and then we can sift through
all the information we've collected
all the information we've collected
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接著我們詳細研究了
所有收集到的資料，
所有收集到的資料，
01:45
and try to work out why
their lives turned out different.
their lives turned out different.
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試著找出為什麼他們的
人生發展結果不同。
人生發展結果不同。
01:48
This British study --
it's actually a kind of crazy story.
it's actually a kind of crazy story.
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這項英國研究──
其實是個有點瘋狂的故事。
其實是個有點瘋狂的故事。
01:51
So it all starts back in 1946,
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一切開始於 1946 年，
01:53
just a few months
after the end of the war,
after the end of the war,
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在戰爭結束後幾個月，
01:55
when scientists wanted to know
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科學家想要知道
01:57
what it was like for a woman
to have a baby at the time.
to have a baby at the time.
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女性在那時有孩子
是什麼樣的感覺。
是什麼樣的感覺。
02:00
They carried out
this huge survey of mothers
this huge survey of mothers
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他們針對母親進行了一個大型調查，
02:03
and ended up recording the birth
of nearly every baby
of nearly every baby
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最後記錄了當週在英國、蘇格蘭、
02:06
born in England, Scotland
and Wales in one week.
and Wales in one week.
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威爾斯誕生的每個寶寶的出生資訊。
02:09
That was nearly 14,000 babies.
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有近 14,000 個寶寶的資料。
02:12
The questions they asked these women
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他們問這些女性的問題
02:14
are very different than the ones
we might ask today.
we might ask today.
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和我們現今可能會問的問題差很多。
02:16
They sound really old-fashioned now.
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現在聽來會覺得很老套。
02:18
They asked them things like,
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問的問題類似這樣：
02:19
"During pregnancy,
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「在懷孕期間，
02:21
did you get your full extra ration
of a pint of milk a day?"
of a pint of milk a day?"
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你是否每天都有拿到
額外配給的一品脫牛奶？」
額外配給的一品脫牛奶？」
02:25
"How much did you spend
on smocks, corsets,
on smocks, corsets,
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「你花多少錢在工作服、緊身胸衣、
02:28
nightdresses, knickers and brassieres?"
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睡衣、襯褲、胸罩上？」
02:32
And this is my favorite one:
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我最喜歡的是這個：
02:34
"Who looked after your husband
while you were in bed with this baby?"
while you were in bed with this baby?"
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「當你和這個寶寶在床上時，
誰照顧你的先生？」
誰照顧你的先生？」
02:37
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
02:42
Now, this wartime study
actually ended up being so successful
actually ended up being so successful
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這項戰時的研究最後非常成功，
02:45
that scientists did it again.
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讓科學家決定再做一次。
02:47
They recorded the births
of thousands of babies born in 1958
of thousands of babies born in 1958
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他們記錄了 1958 年
出生的數千名寶寶，
出生的數千名寶寶，
02:50
and thousands more in 1970.
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1970 年又再記錄了數千名。
02:53
They did it again in the early 1990s,
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九〇年初期他們又做了一次，
02:55
and again at the turn of the millennium.
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在千禧年時又做了一次。
02:57
Altogether, more than 70,000 children
have been involved in these studies
have been involved in these studies
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全部加起來，這些研究涉及了
超過 70,000 名孩童，
超過 70,000 名孩童，
03:00
across those five generations.
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跨越五個世代。
03:02
They're called the British birth cohorts,
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他們稱之為
「英國出生世代的大型調查」，
「英國出生世代的大型調查」，
03:05
and scientists have gone back
and recorded more information
and recorded more information
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每幾年，科學家就得回去
03:07
on all of these people
every few years ever since.
every few years ever since.
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記錄所有這些人的更多資訊。
03:11
The amount of information
that's now been collected on these people
that's now been collected on these people
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從這些人收集來的資料量
03:14
is just completely mind-boggling.
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多到難以想像。
03:15
It includes thousands
of paper questionnaires
of paper questionnaires
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包括了數千份的紙本問卷，
03:18
and terabytes' worth of computer data.
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及好幾兆位元組的電腦資料。
03:20
Scientists have also built up
a huge bank of tissue samples,
a huge bank of tissue samples,
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科學家也建立了一個
組織樣本的大型資料庫，
組織樣本的大型資料庫，
03:23
which includes locks of hair,
nail clippings, baby teeth and DNA.
nail clippings, baby teeth and DNA.
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包含頭髮綹、剪下的指甲、
寶寶牙齒及 DNA。
寶寶牙齒及 DNA。
03:28
They've even collected 9,000 placentas
from some of the births,
from some of the births,
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他們甚至從一些分娩中
收集了 9,000 個胎盤，
收集了 9,000 個胎盤，
03:33
which are now pickled in plastic buckets
in a secure storage warehouse.
in a secure storage warehouse.
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它們目前被醃漬在塑膠桶中，
安全地儲存在倉庫裡。
安全地儲存在倉庫裡。
03:38
This whole project has become unique --
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這整個計畫變得獨一無二──
03:40
so, no other country in the world
is tracking generations of children
is tracking generations of children
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所以，目前沒有其它國家
追蹤數代孩童資料
追蹤數代孩童資料
追蹤地那麼仔細。
03:43
in quite this detail.
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03:45
These are some of the best-studied
people on the planet,
people on the planet,
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這些人是地球上
被研究得最透徹的人，
被研究得最透徹的人，
03:48
and the data has become
incredibly valuable for scientists,
incredibly valuable for scientists,
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這些資料對科學家來說
是極度有價值的，
是極度有價值的，
03:51
generating well over 6,000
academic papers and books.
academic papers and books.
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產生了超過 6,000 篇
學術論文以及書籍。
學術論文以及書籍。
03:56
But today I want to focus
on just one finding --
on just one finding --
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但現今，我只想著重
在其中一項發現──
在其中一項發現──
03:59
perhaps the most important discovery
to come from this remarkable study.
to come from this remarkable study.
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也許是這了不起的研究
帶來最重大的一項發現。
帶來最重大的一項發現。
04:03
And it's also the one
that spoke to me personally,
that spoke to me personally,
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且這項發現對我個人蠻有意義的，
04:06
because it's about how to use science
to do the best for our children.
to do the best for our children.
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因為它告訴了我，如何利用科學的方法
帶給孩子最好的教育。
帶給孩子最好的教育。
04:10
So, let's get the bad news
out of the way first.
out of the way first.
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所以，我們先談談它的黑暗面。
04:14
Perhaps the biggest message
from this remarkable study is this:
from this remarkable study is this:
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也許這項偉大研究是要告訴我們：
04:18
don't be born into poverty
or into disadvantage,
or into disadvantage,
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不要出生於貧困或弱勢，
04:21
because if you are,
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因為若是這樣的話，
04:22
you're far more likely
to walk a difficult path in life.
to walk a difficult path in life.
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你人生走得較艱苦的可能性
會高很多。
會高很多。
04:26
Many children in this study
were born into poor families
were born into poor families
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這項研究的許多孩童
生在貧窮的家庭，
生在貧窮的家庭，
04:29
or into working-class families that had
cramped homes or other problems,
cramped homes or other problems,
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或勞動階級家庭，有的住處狹窄，
有的家中有其它問題。
有的家中有其它問題。
04:33
and it's clear now
that those disadvantaged children
that those disadvantaged children
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現在很明顯可看出，那些弱勢孩童
04:35
have been more likely to struggle
on almost every score.
on almost every score.
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在各方面幾乎都走得比較艱苦。
04:38
They've been more likely
to do worse at school,
to do worse at school,
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他們很可能在學校的表現較差，
04:41
to end up with worse jobs
and to earn less money.
and to earn less money.
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後來的工作比較差，
賺的錢也比較少。
賺的錢也比較少。
04:44
Now, maybe that sounds really obvious,
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也許這聽起來是不用說也知道，
04:46
but some of the results
have been really surprising,
have been really surprising,
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但有些結果卻十分讓人意外，
04:48
so children who had a tough start in life
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人生起跑點就比較艱苦的孩童
04:50
are also more likely to end up
unhealthy as adults.
unhealthy as adults.
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長大也比較可能會
變成不健康的成人。
變成不健康的成人。
04:53
They're more likely to be overweight,
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他們比較可能會過胖、
04:55
to have high blood pressure,
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有高血壓，
04:56
and then decades down the line,
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且在數十年後，
04:58
more likely to have a failing memory,
poor health and even to die earlier.
poor health and even to die earlier.
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比較可能會記憶衰退、
健康狀況差，甚至早逝。
健康狀況差，甚至早逝。
05:05
Now, I talked about what happens later,
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我剛說的是後續發生的狀況，
05:08
but some of these differences emerge
at a really shockingly early age.
at a really shockingly early age.
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但另人吃驚的是，
有些差異在很早期就會浮現。
有些差異在很早期就會浮現。
05:12
In one study,
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在一項研究中，
05:13
children who were growing up in poverty
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在貧窮環境中成長的孩童
05:15
were almost a year behind
the richer children on educational tests,
the richer children on educational tests,
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在教育考試的表現，
會落後有錢孩童一年之多，
會落後有錢孩童一年之多，
05:19
and that was by the age of just three.
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而且在三歲時就會顯現出來。
05:22
These types of differences have been found
again and again across the generations.
again and again across the generations.
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在各世代，我們都會
發現這類的差異。
發現這類的差異。
05:26
It means that our early circumstances
have a profound influence
have a profound influence
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這意味著，我們早年的處境，
對人生後續發展有著深遠的影響。
05:29
on the way that the rest
of our lives play out.
of our lives play out.
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05:32
And working out why that is
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找出這背後的原因，
05:33
is one of the most difficult questions
that we face today.
that we face today.
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是我們現今面臨到
最困難的問題之一。
最困難的問題之一。
05:37
So there we have it.
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所以，就是這樣。
05:39
The first lesson for successful life,
everyone, is this:
everyone, is this:
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各位，成功人生的第一課就是：
05:42
choose your parents very carefully.
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小心選擇你的父母。
05:44
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
05:45
Don't be born into a poor family
or into a struggling family.
or into a struggling family.
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不要生在貧窮
或是謀生艱困的家庭中。
或是謀生艱困的家庭中。
05:49
Now, I'm sure you can see
the small problem here.
the small problem here.
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我相信各位都能發現，
這裡有一個小問題。
這裡有一個小問題。
05:52
We can't choose our parents
or how much they earn,
or how much they earn,
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我們無法選擇父母或是他們的收入，
05:55
but this British study has also struck
a real note of optimism
a real note of optimism
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但這項英國研究也傳達出
一項樂觀的訊息，
一項樂觀的訊息，
05:58
by showing that not everyone
who has a disadvantaged start
who has a disadvantaged start
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研究顯示，並非所有
在起跑點就屬弱勢的人
在起跑點就屬弱勢的人
06:02
ends up in difficult circumstances.
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最後就一定會身處困苦的境遇。
06:05
As you know, many people
have a tough start in life,
have a tough start in life,
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如你所知，許多人
在人生剛開始很辛苦，
在人生剛開始很辛苦，
06:07
but they end up doing very well
on some measure nevertheless,
on some measure nevertheless,
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最後他們在某些地方
表現非常出色，
表現非常出色，
06:10
and this study starts to explain how.
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而這項研究對此做了解釋。
06:13
So the second lesson is this:
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所以第二課是：
06:15
parents really matter.
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父母真的很重要。
06:17
In this study,
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在這項研究中，
06:19
children who had engaged,
interested parents,
interested parents,
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如果孩童的父母很投入、很關心，
06:21
ones who had ambition for their future,
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對他們的未來有著野心，
06:23
were more likely to escape
from a difficult start.
from a difficult start.
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這些孩童就比較有機會
脫離困苦的開端。
脫離困苦的開端。
06:26
It seems that parents and what they do
are really, really important,
are really, really important,
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似乎父母本身，以及他們的
所做所為，都非常重要，
所做所為，都非常重要，
06:30
especially in the first few years of life.
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特別是在孩童人生中的前幾年。
06:32
Let me give you an example of that.
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讓我舉個例子。
06:34
In one study,
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在一項研究中，
06:35
scientists looked at about 17,000 children
who were born in 1970.
who were born in 1970.
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科學家研究了約 17,000 名
生於 1970 年的孩童。
生於 1970 年的孩童。
06:40
They sifted all the mountains of data
that they had collected
that they had collected
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他們仔細探究了
他們收集到的大量資料，
他們收集到的大量資料，
06:43
to try to work out
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試圖想要找出
06:45
what allowed the children
who'd had a difficult start in life
who'd had a difficult start in life
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是什麼因素
讓人生開端很困苦的孩童
讓人生開端很困苦的孩童
06:47
to go on and do well
at school nevertheless.
at school nevertheless.
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能繼續走下去
並在學校表現出色。
並在學校表現出色。
06:50
In other words, which ones beat the odds.
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換言之，他們是如何創造不可能的？
06:52
The data showed that what mattered
more than anything else was parents.
more than anything else was parents.
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資料顯示，最重要的因素就是父母。
06:56
Having engaged, interested parents
in those first few years of life
in those first few years of life
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大部分後續能在學校
表現出色的孩童，
表現出色的孩童，
06:59
was strongly linked to children going on
to do well at school later on.
to do well at school later on.
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在人生的前幾年都有
投入且關心的父母相隨。
投入且關心的父母相隨。
07:04
In fact, quite small things
that parents do
that parents do
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事實上，父母做的一些小事，
07:07
are associated with good
outcomes for children.
outcomes for children.
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都與孩童將來的好表現有關。
07:10
Talking and listening to a child,
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跟孩童說話並傾聽他們、
07:12
responding to them warmly,
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以溫暖的方式回應他們、
07:14
teaching them their letters and numbers,
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教他們字母和數字、
07:16
taking them on trips and visits.
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帶他們出去玩或造訪別人。
07:17
Reading to children every day
seems to be really important, too.
seems to be really important, too.
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每天唸書給孩童聽也非常重要。
07:21
So in one study,
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所以，在一項研究中，
07:22
children whose parents were reading
to them daily when they were five
to them daily when they were five
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孩童在五歲時，若父母
每天唸書給他們聽，
每天唸書給他們聽，
07:26
and then showing an interest
in their education at the age of 10,
in their education at the age of 10,
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在十歲時，若父母展現出
對他們所學的內容感到興趣，
對他們所學的內容感到興趣，
相較於父母不做這些事的孩童，
07:29
were significantly less likely
to be in poverty at the age of 30
to be in poverty at the age of 30
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這些孩童在三十歲時，
有很大的機率不會貧窮。
有很大的機率不會貧窮。
07:33
than those whose parents
weren't doing those things.
weren't doing those things.
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07:37
Now, there are huge challenges
with interpreting this type of science.
with interpreting this type of science.
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要詮釋這類的科學，
有很大的挑戰。
有很大的挑戰。
07:41
These studies show
that certain things that parents do
that certain things that parents do
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這些研究顯示，
父母是否有做這些事情
父母是否有做這些事情
07:44
are correlated with good
outcomes for children,
outcomes for children,
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對孩子將來的表現好壞有關，
07:46
but we don't necessarily know
those behaviors caused the good outcomes,
those behaviors caused the good outcomes,
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但我們並不清楚
是那些行為造成了好表現，
是那些行為造成了好表現，
07:50
or whether some other factor
is getting in the way.
is getting in the way.
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或是還有其它因素夾在中間。
07:52
For example, we have to take
genes into account,
genes into account,
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比如，我們得要考量基因，
07:54
and that's a whole other talk in itself.
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光這點就可以再做一場演說。
07:57
But scientists working
with this British study
with this British study
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但做這項英國研究的科學家
07:59
are working really hard to get at causes,
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非常努力地想要找出原因，
08:01
and this is one study I particularly love.
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而我特別喜愛的一項研究，
08:03
In this one,
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是這項研究：
08:05
they looked at the bedtime routines
of about 10,000 children
of about 10,000 children
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他們去研究一萬名千禧年出生的孩童
08:08
born at the turn of the millennium.
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上床睡覺時間的習慣。
08:09
Were the children going to bed
at regular times,
at regular times,
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研究這些孩童
是否有固定的上床時間，
是否有固定的上床時間，
08:12
or did they go to bed
at different times during the week?
at different times during the week?
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或是平常日上床睡覺時間都不同？
08:15
The data showed that those children
who were going to bed at different times
who were going to bed at different times
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資料顯示，在不同時間上床的孩童
08:18
were more likely
to have behavioral problems,
to have behavioral problems,
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比較有可能會產生行為問題，
08:21
and then those that switched
to having regular bedtimes
to having regular bedtimes
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而有固定上床時間的孩童
08:23
often showed an improvement in behavior,
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通常在行為上就會有改善，
08:26
and that was really crucial,
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這點非常重要，
08:27
because it suggested
it was the bedtime routines
it was the bedtime routines
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因為它意味著，規律的上床時間
08:29
that were really helping things
get better for those kids.
get better for those kids.
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真的能協助孩童有更好的表現。
08:33
Here's another one to think about.
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還有一項研究值得思考。
08:34
In this one,
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在這項研究中，
08:36
scientists looked at children
who were reading for pleasure.
who were reading for pleasure.
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科學家研究的是
把閱讀當樂趣的孩童。
把閱讀當樂趣的孩童。
08:39
That means that they picked up
a magazine, a picture book, a story book.
a magazine, a picture book, a story book.
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也就是常拿起雜誌、
圖畫書、故事書的小孩子。
圖畫書、故事書的小孩子。
08:43
The data showed that children
who were reading for pleasure
who were reading for pleasure
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資料顯示，在五歲和十歲時
08:46
at the ages of five and 10
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把閱讀當樂趣的孩童，
08:48
were more likely to go on in school
better, on average,
better, on average,
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平均來說，將來比較有可能在學校
08:51
on school tests later in their lives.
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1971
有較好的考試成績。
08:53
And not just tests of reading,
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不只是閱讀相關的考試，
08:55
but tests of spelling and maths as well.
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也包括拼字和數學的考試。
08:58
This study tried to control
for all the confounding factors,
for all the confounding factors,
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這項研究試圖控制所有
會造成混淆的因素，
會造成混淆的因素，
09:01
so it looked at children
who were equally intelligent
who were equally intelligent
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2484
所以它研究的孩童，
有同等的智力、
有同等的智力、
09:03
and from the same social-class background,
192
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2032
來自同樣的社會階級背景，
09:05
so it seemed as if it was the reading
which really helped those children
which really helped those children
193
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所以這樣看來，
的確是閱讀幫助了這些孩童
的確是閱讀幫助了這些孩童
09:09
go on and score better on those
school tests later in their lives.
school tests later in their lives.
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在後續的考試中能有好的表現。
09:13
Now at the start,
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在一開始，
09:14
I said the first lesson from this study
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我說過，這項研究教導的第一課
09:16
was not to be born into poverty
or into disadvantage,
or into disadvantage,
197
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就是不要生在貧窮或弱勢的家庭中，
09:19
because those children tend to follow
more difficult paths in their lives.
more difficult paths in their lives.
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因為這些孩童傾向會有
比較辛苦的人生道路。
比較辛苦的人生道路。
09:23
But then I said that parenting matters,
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但接著我說，父母是重要的，
09:25
and that good parenting,
if you can call it that,
if you can call it that,
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好的養育，如果可以這麼稱它的話，
09:27
helps children beat the odds
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好的養育能協助孩童突破不可能
09:29
and overcome some
of those early disadvantages.
of those early disadvantages.
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並克服早期的一些弱勢。
09:31
So wait,
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等等，
09:33
does that actually mean, then,
that poverty doesn't matter after all?
that poverty doesn't matter after all?
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3344
那麼這是否意味著
是否貧窮完全不重要？
是否貧窮完全不重要？
09:38
You could argue it doesn't matter
if a child is born poor --
if a child is born poor --
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你會主張說：孩童是否
出生於貧窮並不重要──
出生於貧窮並不重要──
09:41
as long as their parents are good parents,
they're going to do just fine.
they're going to do just fine.
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3721
只要他們的父母是好父母，
他們之後的表現就會很好。
他們之後的表現就會很好。
09:44
I don't believe that's true.
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我不相信這是對的。
09:46
This study shows that poverty
and parenting matter.
and parenting matter.
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這項研究顯示貧困和養育是重要的。
09:49
And one study actually
put figures on that,
put figures on that,
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2000
有項研究真的加上了數字，
09:51
so it looked at children
growing up in persistent poverty
growing up in persistent poverty
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它研究了一直在貧困中成長的孩童，
09:54
and how well they were doing at school.
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看他們在學校的表現。
09:56
The data showed
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1151
資料顯示，
09:57
that even when their parents
were doing everything right --
were doing everything right --
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即使他們的父母做對了一切──
10:00
putting them to bed on time
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讓他們準時上床，
10:01
and reading to them every day
and everything else --
and everything else --
215
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2437
每天唸書給他們聽，
及其它的每一件事──
及其它的每一件事──
10:04
that only got those children so far.
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也只能幫孩子到這樣。
10:06
Good parenting only reduced
the educational gap
the educational gap
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好的養育也只能將
富有孩童和貧窮孩童
富有孩童和貧窮孩童
之間的教育落差減少約 50%。
10:09
between the rich and poor children
by about 50 percent.
by about 50 percent.
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3013
10:13
Now that means that poverty
leaves a really lasting scar,
leaves a really lasting scar,
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那意味著，貧窮留下的傷疤
會一直持續下去，
會一直持續下去，
10:17
and it means that if we really want
to ensure the success and well-being
to ensure the success and well-being
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3382
也意味著，如果我們真的
想要確保下一代的
想要確保下一代的
10:21
of the next generation,
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1437
成功和幸福，
10:22
then tackling child poverty
is an incredibly important thing to do.
is an incredibly important thing to do.
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那麼如何處理孩童的貧困，
就是非常重要的事。
就是非常重要的事。
10:27
Now, what does all this mean
for you and me?
for you and me?
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對你我來說，這又有什麼意涵？
10:30
Are there lessons here
we can all take home and use?
we can all take home and use?
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有什麼我們可以帶回家用的方法嗎？
10:32
As a scientist and a journalist,
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1530
身為科學家和新聞工作者，
10:34
I like to have some science
to inform my parenting ...
to inform my parenting ...
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我會想要用科學的方法
來教我如何養育孩童……
來教我如何養育孩童……
10:37
and I can tell you that when
you're shouting at your kids
you're shouting at your kids
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2757
我可以告訴各位，當你在大聲叫
10:40
to go to bed on time,
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1260
孩子準時上床時，
10:41
it really helps to have
the scientific literature on your side.
the scientific literature on your side.
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那你的案例對科學的
文獻貢獻會很大。
文獻貢獻會很大。
10:45
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
10:46
And wouldn't it be great to think
231
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1603
如果說要讓我們的孩子
10:47
that all we had to do to have
happy, successful children
happy, successful children
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2709
能快樂、成功，我們
只需要和他們說話、
只需要和他們說話、
10:50
was to talk to them,
be interested in their future,
be interested in their future,
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2699
關心他們的未來、讓他們準時上床、
10:53
put them to bed on time,
and give them a book to read?
and give them a book to read?
234
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2574
給他們一本書看，這樣不是很好嗎？
10:55
Our job would be done.
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1150
我們的工作就完成了。
10:57
Now, as you can imagine,
236
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各位應該可以想像，
10:58
the answers aren't quite
as simple as that.
as simple as that.
237
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3209
答案並沒有那麼簡單。
11:02
For one thing, this study
looks at what happens
looks at what happens
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2191
理由之一是，這項研究所探討的
11:04
to thousands and thousands
of children on average,
of children on average,
239
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2421
是數千名孩童的平均狀況，
11:06
but that doesn't necessarily say
what will help my child or your child
what will help my child or your child
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3598
但那不表示它就一定能
幫助到我的孩子、你的孩子，
幫助到我的孩子、你的孩子，
11:10
or any individual child.
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或任何各別的孩子。
11:12
In the end, each of our children
is going to walk their own path,
is going to walk their own path,
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3208
最終，我們的孩子
都得要走他們自己的路，
都得要走他們自己的路，
11:15
and that's partly defined
by the genes they inherit
by the genes they inherit
243
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2579
有部分是取決於他們被遺傳的基因，
11:17
and of course all the experiences
they have through their lives,
they have through their lives,
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3001
當然，還有他們一生中
走過的所有經驗，
走過的所有經驗，
11:20
including their interactions
with us, their parents.
with us, their parents.
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包括與我們──
也就是他們的父母──的互動。
也就是他們的父母──的互動。
11:23
I will tell you what I did
after I learned all this.
after I learned all this.
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2455
讓我告訴各位，
學到這些後我做了什麼。
學到這些後我做了什麼。
11:25
It's a bit embarrassing.
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1150
其實有點尷尬。
11:27
I realized I was so busy working,
248
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2473
我發現我忙著工作，
11:30
and ironically,
249
678449
1159
很諷刺的是，
11:31
learning and writing about this incredible
study of British children,
study of British children,
250
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3584
我也忙著學習和撰寫這項
關於英國孩童的偉大研究，
關於英國孩童的偉大研究，
11:35
that there were days when I hardly
even spoke to my own British children.
even spoke to my own British children.
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3458
忙到有些日子我幾乎沒時間
跟我的孩子說話。
跟我的孩子說話。
11:39
So at home, we introduced talking time,
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2254
所以回到家後，
我們設立了談話時間，
我們設立了談話時間，
11:41
which is just 15 minutes
at the end of the day
at the end of the day
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2144
在每天結束前的 15 分鐘，
11:43
when we talk and listen to the boys.
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2166
我們要和孩子說話
並傾聽他們的聲音。
並傾聽他們的聲音。
11:46
I try better now to ask them
what they did today,
what they did today,
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我現在做得比較好，
會問他們今天做了什麼事，
會問他們今天做了什麼事，
11:50
and to show that I value
what they do at school.
what they do at school.
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2331
讓他們知道我看重他們
在學校做的事。
在學校做的事。
11:52
Of course, I make sure
they always have a book to read.
they always have a book to read.
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當然，我也會確保
他們隨時都有本書能讀。
他們隨時都有本書能讀。
11:55
I tell them I'm ambitious
for their future,
for their future,
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我告訴他們，
我期望他們有好的未來，
我期望他們有好的未來，
11:57
and I think they can be happy
and do great things.
and do great things.
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3160
我認為他們能過得快樂、
能成就偉大的事。
能成就偉大的事。
12:02
I don't know that any of that
will make a difference,
will make a difference,
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2782
我不知道這樣做是否能造成改變，
12:04
but I'm pretty confident
it won't do them any harm,
it won't do them any harm,
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但我很有信心，
這樣做對他們無害，
這樣做對他們無害，
12:07
and it might even do them some good.
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甚至對他們會有些好處。
12:09
Ultimately, if we want happy children,
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最終，如果我們想要孩子快樂，
12:12
all we can do is listen to the science,
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我們能做的只有聽科學怎麼說，
12:14
and of course,
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當然，還有，
12:15
listen to our children themselves.
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聽我們的孩子怎麼說。
12:17
Thank you.
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謝謝。
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Helen Pearson - Science journalist, editor, authorHelen Pearson's book, "The Life Project," tells the extraordinary story of the longest-running study of human development in the world.
Why you should listen
In March 1946, scientists began tracking almost every British baby born in a single week. What they discovered would change how we are born, grow up, raise children, live and die. Helen Pearson's 2016 book, The Life Project, is the story of this incredible project and the remarkable discoveries that have come from it. It was named best science book of the year by The Observer and was a book of the year for The Economist.
As Chief Magazine Editor for the world’s leading science journal, Nature, Pearson oversees all its journalism and opinion content. Her own stories have won accolades including the 2010 Wistar Institute Science Journalism Award and two best feature awards from the Association of British Science Writers.
Helen Pearson | Speaker | TED.com