Does your tot seem a tad impulsive? Take a cue from Kenny Rodgers - it might be time to let him know when to fold 'em, know when to hold 'em, know when to walk away . . .
OK, if he's impulsive, he probably has down running.
A new study says impulsive kindergartners are more likely to fall prey to gambling addictions when they age. In fact, the study says the problems start at the ripe old age of sixth grade.
Er, OK. And what does a sixth grade gambling addict look like? Is he up to his ears in I.O.U. used Nintendo game markers?
All joking aside, this is a serious study. Published in this month's issue of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, the study follows one hundred sixty-three kids over a six-year time frame. When the kids were in kindergarten, their teachers were asked to rate their "inattentiveness, distractibility and hyperactivity" on a scale of one to nine. If nine is distractible, I'd have to rate any kindergartner I know an eight point six.
Six years later, when the kids were eleven, the researchers were back, asking them how often they played cards or bingo
for money, bought lottery tickets, played video games or video poker
for money, or bet on sports. The study took place in Canada, which should account for at least some minute differences. I don't see many American children being granted access to lottery tickets - the sole time I purchased a lottery ticket, I know I was carded (I was in my twenties).
As for betting on sports or playing cards for money - does that necessarily mean kids are on a highway to hell? We played poker for money in the back four seats of our bus in high school - almost every day. I had jars full of pennies in my room because I was adept at bluffing. Yet, I live a half hour from a video lottery gaming center, and I haven't gambled once. For that matter, none of the people I played WITH have gambling troubles today.
I understand adult gambling addiction is a real problem and clearly linked to impulse control. But what ever happened to letting kindergartners being kindergartners? Sure, they might throw crayons without thinking now, but twenty years from now, they might just know how to hold 'em.
Image: Triin
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