Most parents struggle with getting their kids to behave.
Even good kids do bad things sometimes. Wondering if your kids will turn out to be trouble? Don’t worry; sometimes, kids appear to be acting bad, but they really aren’t. In fact, their behavior could actually lead to good things.
According to several studies, kids who act out are doing so for good reason. When they don’t listen, it might not mean they are disobedient. Children who do some of the naughtiest things also grow up to be successful people. Before you start to question your parenting skills, check out some of these studies.
Have you ever told your children not to do something, but they do it anyway?
There are few things more frustrating, right? Well, it might not be that your children are meaning to do the exact opposite of what you asked, it could be that they just can’t help it.
According to a recent survey:
“Many parents assume children can do things at earlier ages than child-development experts know to be true. For example, 56% of parents felt that children under the age of 3 should be able to resist the desire to do something forbidden whereas most children don’t master this skill until age 3 and a half or 4.”
Of course, this isn’t the only problems parents put up with.
Have you ever taken your kids to a birthday party or another crowded event only to watch them throw a fit or get extremely hyper? This is pretty common, and it’s also something children can’t help.
According to a study in Scientific American:
“Research suggests that 28% of Americans ‘always feel rushed’ and 45% report having ‘no excess time.’ Children also experience a ‘cumulative stress reaction’ from too much enrichment, activity, choice, and toys. Kids need tons of ‘down time’ to balance their ‘up time.’”
Another thing that many parents notice about their young children is that they are very emotional.
In fact, some parents are even annoyed by how dramatic their kids can be and how they overreact to everything. Parents could actually be to blame for these emotions. According to Interpersona, kids pick up on their parents’ emotions and reflect them.
The study suggests:
“It only takes milliseconds for emotions like enthusiasm and joy, as well as sadness, fear, and anger, to pass from person to person, and this often occurs without either person realizing it. Kids especially pick up on their parents’ moods. If we are stressed, distracted, down, or always on the verge of frustrated, kids emulate these moods. When we are peaceful and grounded, kids model off that instead.”
Being a parent isn’t easy, but being a kid isn’t, either.
It turns out your kids aren’t that bad or strange after all. Not only are they not the only ones doing these things, but they are all completely normal and explained.
Don’t give up yet, mom and dad; there is still hope for your children. As they grow up, these behaviors will stop. Until then, give them a break. They are only trying to cope with the world around them the best they can.
Don’t yell and scream; just try to make things easier for them. That’s the real job of a parent. At least there is a scientific reason your kid is throwing a tantrum in the middle of Target.
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Sources: Interpersona, Scientific American, Zero to Three, Upworthy
