When someone pulls out a ruler to measure a part of your body, do you start to feel inadequate? Now kids can share that pain. A recent study found that the finger length of kids between the ages of six and seven correlated with performance on standardized academic tests. Boys with short index fingers compared to their ring fingers did well on math tests, and girls with same-length index and ring fingers did well on verbal tests. No word yet on what my very long middle finger means, aside from the fact that other motorists seem to be bothered by it.
The digit length is believed to be linked to hormones, which play a role in brain development. Testosterone purportedly influences mathematical and spatial ability, while estrogen is argued to affect the areas of the brain used in language. Finger length serves as a marker of prenatal hormone exposures, and potentially inborn academic abilities. Curse you, hormones! I blame everything on you.
So instead of doing flash cards, this year we will be working on finger stretching. Because I want my child to have the brightest possible future at Harvard.
