Why September Babies Are More Successful, According to Science

Good news for Virgos and Libras!

Your kids might be set up for greatness from the moment they’re born. No, we’re not getting into the nature vs. nurture debate—we’re talking birth month. A National Bureau of Economic Research report found that children born in September tend to be more successful.

The study looked at the grades of students ages 6 to 15 and found that children born in September had higher scores on average than their peers. Using equations to project the kids’ future grades and college outcomes, the researchers determined those successful young students would be more likely to have higher overall test scores, more likely to be accepted to better schools, and were less likely to be incarcerated for crimes. Keep your child ahead of the pack with these 11 secrets of straight-A students.

The study’s findings have nothing to do with the traits of Virgos and Libras, but rather how old those September babies end up being compared to their peers. The birthday cutoff for most schools is September 1, so kids born that month are the oldest and most developed in their respective classes. Kids with August birthdays, on the other hand, were more likely to lag behind their peers because they were younger than most of their classmates. But if you’re curious, this is the smartest Zodiac sign.

At young ages, this natural several-month leg-up is crucial, as childhood development grows in leaps and bounds relative to any other time in one’s life. Later, the cutoff advantage snowballs, as the kids who are favorably born have an advantage which puts them into better programs and earns them more instruction time, which then improves their cognitive function further, which continues to aggregate over time.

For parents with August babies, don’t fret; this isn’t completely out of your hands. Plenty of factors beyond birth month still factor in, and if you want to boost your kid’s brain brawn, try this daily activity that boosts kids’ brain powerNext, learn how to spot the 11 signs that your child might be gifted.

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