The Reading / Listening - Older Mothers - Level 1

Research says children of older mothers grow up happier. It says these children have fewer behavioural, social and emotional problems. Researchers looked at data from 4,741 mothers. A researcher said we are more flexible and more tolerant of others as we get older. He said this could be why older mothers do not scold and hit their children so much. He said this kind of parenting can lead to a positive environment as the children grow up.

The research said the average age of the mothers was 31. Older mothers worry less during pregnancy and are usually more positive about having children. This may mean they are more caring. They also have stronger relationships, more money and a better education. Researchers found that children with older mothers have better language skills. This may be because older mothers spend more time with their children and talk to them more.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Older Mothers - Level 0 Older Mothers - Level 2   or  Older Mothers - Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20170323/older-mothers-may-raise-better-behaved-kids-study-suggests
  • http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17405629.2016.1266248?journalCode=pedp20
  • http://www.news-medical.net/news/20170323/Children-born-to-older-mothers-are-at-an-advantage-report-researchers.aspx


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. emotional
  2. looked at data
  3. more flexible and more tolerant
  4. as we get
  5. He said this could be
  6. scold and
  7. lead to a positive
  8. as the children grow
  1. older
  2. hit their children
  3. up
  4. from 4,741 mothers
  5. environment
  6. why
  7. problems
  8. of others

Paragraph 2

  1. the average age of the
  2. Older mothers worry less
  3. usually more positive about
  4. This may mean they are more
  5. a better
  6. have better language
  7. spend more time with
  8. talk to them
  1. skills
  2. having children
  3. more
  4. during pregnancy
  5. their children
  6. mothers was 31
  7. education
  8. caring

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Research says (1) ___________________ older mothers grow up happier. It says these children have fewer behavioural, (2) ___________________ emotional problems. Researchers looked (3) ___________________ 4,741 mothers. A researcher said we are more flexible and more (4) ___________________ others as we get older. He said this could (5) ___________________ mothers do not scold and hit their children so much. He said this kind of parenting can (6) ___________________ positive environment as the children grow up.

The research said (7) ___________________ of the mothers was 31. Older mothers (8) ___________________ during pregnancy and are usually more (9) ___________________ having children. This may mean (10) ___________________ caring. They also have stronger relationships, more money and a better education. Researchers found that children with older mothers have better (11) ___________________. This may be because older mothers spend more time with their children and (12) ___________________ more.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Researchsayschildrenofoldermothersgrowuphappier.Itsaysthesech
ildrenhavefewerbehavioural,socialandemotionalproblems.Researc
herslookedatdatafrom4,741mothers.Aresearchersaidwearemorefle
xibleandmoretolerantofothersaswegetolder.Hesaidthiscouldbewhy
oldermothersdonotscoldandhittheirchildrensomuch.Hesaidthiskind
ofparentingcanleadtoapositiveenvironmentasthechildrengrowup.T
heresearchsaidtheaverageageofthemotherswas31.Oldermothersw
orrylessduringpregnancyandareusuallymorepositiveabouthavingch
ildren.Thismaymeantheyaremorecaring.Theyalsohavestrongerrela
tionships,moremoneyandabettereducation.Researchersfoundthatc
hildrenwitholdermothershavebetterlanguageskills.Thismaybebeca
useoldermothersspendmoretimewiththeirchildrenandtalktothemm
ore.

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

Write about this topic for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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