《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词4500》29 Superbabies Aren't Happy Babies

　　Unit 29
Superbabies Aren't Happy Babies
They are drilling their infants in math and reading skills, using flashcards, books and videotapes. They are enrolling¹ their 3-year-old in tennis lessons and entering their 4-yrar-olds in beauty contest and athletic² competitions. Now they are trying to educate their kids in the womb with phone-like learning devices.
They are parents who want their children to be superbabies. As a distinct parental³ species, they have gained increasing attention in recent years, even as their overzealousness has been condemned⁴ by many child-development experts. But no one has presented evidence against the superbaby ethic⁵ in a comprehensive, authoritative⁶ way --  until now, in a new book by Dr. Elkind, a child psychologist.
"These pushy⁷ parents are engaging in a form or miseducation," said Dr. Elkind, "I'm alarmed by what I see. Though superbaby phenomenon was first noted⁸ in upper-middle-class families several years ago, now less advantaged families seem to be adopting the attitudes of wealthy parents. Increasing numbers of American youngsters are pressed to think, feel, and behave like older children and adults."
The long-term consequences of parental efforts are signs of stress -- stomachaches and headaches, eating and sleeping problems and changes in children's ordinary patterns of behavior. Preschoolers' self-esteem can also b diminished since te tendency of children is to blame themselves when they can't do an impossible task set by an adult. There can be other more damaging effects. Dr. Elkind cites research findings suggesting that the emphasis on academics for young children is contributing to depression among elementary school pupils. More insidiously⁹, when adults decide at an early age what children should learn, it can affect children's sense of industry: setting goals, getting a job done and having a sense of accomplishment¹⁰.
It's healthy to want a child to excel and do well. But you do that b providing a stimulating¹¹ environment, rather than pushing a small child to master skills. Studies by developmental psychology¹² through their own experiences. Play is very important to learning, and formal instruction if introduced too early, can inhibit¹³ learning. "The whole idea that earlier is better is just wrong. Children at older ages can master skills better, with greater ease."
Many parents feel that a difficult aspect of the superbaby trend is peer pressure. Elkind hopes his book will give support to parents who want to resist the trend, so that when a neighbor says, "Why isn't your 9-month-old in a swimming class?" parents can say, "It's a wholly unnecessary and potentially dangerous idea."

1 enrolling   

v.招收( enrol的现在分词 )；吸收；入学；加入；[亦作enrol]( enroll的现在分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They lashed out at the university enrolling system. 他们猛烈抨击大学的招生制度。 来自辞典例句
• You're enrolling in a country club, Billy. 你是注册加入乡村俱乐部了，比利。 来自辞典例句

2 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

3 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

5 ethic   

n.道德标准，行为准则

参考例句：

• They instilled the work ethic into their children.他们在孩子们的心中注入了职业道德的理念。
• The connotation of education ethic is rooted in human nature's mobility.教育伦理的内涵根源于人本性的变动性。

6 authoritative   

adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的

参考例句：

• David speaks in an authoritative tone.大卫以命令的口吻说话。
• Her smile was warm but authoritative.她的笑容很和蔼，同时又透着威严。

7 pushy   

adj.固执己见的，一意孤行的

参考例句：

• But she insisted and was very pushy.但她一直坚持,而且很急于求成。
• He made himself unpopular by being so pushy.他特别喜欢出风头，所以人缘不好。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 insidiously   

潜在地，隐伏地，阴险地

参考例句：

• This disease may develop insidiously, with fever as the only clinical manifestation. 这种病可能隐袭发生，仅有发热为其唯一的临床表现。
• Actinobacillosis develops insidiously in soft tissues. 放线杆菌病是在软组织中呈隐袭性发生的。

10 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

11 stimulating   

adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的

参考例句：

• shower gel containing plant extracts that have a stimulating effect on the skin 含有对皮肤有益的植物精华的沐浴凝胶
• This is a drug for stimulating nerves. 这是一种兴奋剂。

12 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

13 inhibit   

vt.阻止，妨碍，抑制

参考例句：

• Don't let ego and greed inhibit clear thinking and hard work.不要让自我和贪婪妨碍清晰的思维和刻苦的工作。
• They passed a law to inhibit people from parking in the street.他们通过一项法令以阻止人们在街上停车。