LiveScience has reported on the first study of its kind that looks at the effects of religion on young child development.

According to the article, the kids whose parents regularly attended religious services—especially when both parents did so frequently—and talked with their kids about religion, were rated by both parents and teachers as having better self-control, social skills and approaches to learning than kids with non-religious parents.

John Bartkowski, a Mississippi State University sociologist who helped conduct the study is quoted as saying he thinks religion can be good for kids for three reasons: 1) the social support they provide parents, 2) the types of values and norms that circulate in religious congregations tend to be self-sacrificing and pro-family, and 3) religious organizations imbue parenting with sacred meaning and significance.

The study did include a warning however, for those parents who continually argue about religion in the home, and the negative effect it can have on the children.

Noted University of Virginia sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox, for most religious parents, "getting their kids into Heaven is more important than getting their kids into Harvard."

To read the report in full, follow the link provided.
Source: LiveScience