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By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kids Nutrition Specialist As a parent, you may wish you had the resources to give your child everything they want. It turns out; the best things in life are free as there are certain gifts you can give your child that money cannot buy. A new study by the University of Oregon discovered that a little quality parenting goes a long way. The new study shows that even parents living in poverty have an equal opportunity to improve their childs future. University of Oregon researchers studied a unique counseling method in a group of children enrolled in the federal program Head Start in Oregon. Researchers evaluated the childrens thinking before and after their parents underwent specialized counseling. Fourteen children aged 3-5 were tested on attention and language skills in addition to undergoing a brain scan prior to parental counseling. An additional 14 children received the same tests; however, their parents received no counseling. Parents of the experimental group of children then underwent once per week counseling for 8 weeks. During the counseling sessions, parents learned how to talk with their kids while allowing the children direct chances to contribute to the conversation. Parents also learned positive parenting practices such as constructive discipline and providing consistent routines for their kids. The children were then retested, and the parents who participated in the counseling sessions had children who scored significantly higher on the tests, including a higher IQ, than the children of the parents who did not undergo parenting classes. The parents even received an added bonus from the parenting classes, as they reported less stress at home and fewer problems with their kids. Lack of social support and parental stress has been proven to affect a childs brain development showing it is not necessarily the amount of money a parent has that affects a childs future success. Researchers conclude there is no simple recipe or easy answer to parenting, but early intervention can have a lasting affect. The methods in the study were strongly rooted in science and proved helpful even in a short period of time. For more parenting tips for your young child, visit Parenting Toddlers.