While I don't have kids myself these types of experiments aimed at pushing kids in a certain beneficial direction. e.g. My dad had a policy that he'd cover the cost of all bookstore purchases. All other entertainment expenses get funded via allowance.
I wouldn't be surprised if small nudges like that have far reaching effects much later in life.
>I suspect that having a nudger around who cares enough to do that kind of nudging is what really matters.
That too. I'm proud to say that my dad was a true class act - he swore both his kids would walk into life with a varsity education and no debt come hell or high water.
That being said I still think its the small practical things that count. All those small things accumulate towards one massive social edge that is hard to quantify. Suppose you need to pick an engineer to build a bridge...the one grew up with legos the other grew up without. Who do you pick? Trivial childhood detail?
I remember the nudge of my dad that he wanted to treat all his sons equally. So the same financial rules and support for all of us. He learned us to value fairness.
I wouldn't be surprised if small nudges like that have far reaching effects much later in life.