# Does Child Intelligence Inherit From IQ or Can Parents Still Make a Difference?

> Parents' support boosts child intelligence early in life, even after controlling for maternal IQ.
- Title: Does Child Intelligence Inherit From IQ or Can Parents Still…
- Summary: Parents' support boosts child intelligence early in life, even after controlling for maternal IQ. Maternal support positively influences children's…
- Keywords: louise leboyer, curs dunks, dimitri van der linden, tetsuya kawamoto, early head start, intelligence, maternal support, child development, Does, Child, Inherit, Parents
- Source: Psychologies — https://psychologies.com/famille/enfants/Intelligence-enfant-herite-QI-parents-peuvent-faire-difference-561240
- Author: Louise Leboyer
- Published: 2026-10-07T17:26:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: louise leboyer, curs dunks, dimitri van der linden, tetsuya kawamoto, early head start, intelligence, maternal support, child development
## Parental Behavior Affects Child Development
Parental behavior directly impacts children's development, with maternal support influencing their intelligence levels.
## Maternal Support and Intelligence Study
Researchers Curtis Dunkel, Dimitri van der Linden, and Tetsuya Kawamoto studied maternal behavior's effect on children's intelligence.
## Early Head Start Study Data
The study used data from 1,075 children across diverse origins collected between 1996 and 2010.
## Maternal Support Measured Through 3 Aspects
Maternal support was measured via three aspects: parental sensitivity, cognitive stimulation, and positive consideration.
## Maternal Support Boosts Child Intelligence
Maternal support positively influences children's intelligence levels, even after controlling for maternal intelligence.
## Effect Diminishes with Age
The effect of maternal support on intelligence fades by adulthood, with weaker links for children interested in parental cognitive efforts.
## Key takeaway

Maternal support positively influences children's intelligence levels from infancy, with effects diminishing by adulthood.