Raising a Strong Willed Kid or a Compliant Kid ?
Posted: February 27, 2008We have talked about the inborn temperaments of children, which can range from compliant to strong willed, from sweet to spitfire.
However, what else do we know about these very different chidlren ? How do they fare as they get older an what do parents need to know to raise them properly ? We now have some answers.
More than 35,000 parents participated in a study conducted on temperaments. This is the four conclusions derived from he study by James Dobson.
First, there are nearly three times as many strong willed children as compliant ones. Almost every family with children has at least one.
Second, there is a slight tendency for males to have tougher temperaments and for females to be more compliant, but this can be, and often, is reversed.
Third, most parents recognise strong-willed children very clearly. One-third can tell at birth, two-thirds know by the first birthday and 92% are certain by the third birthday. Parents of compliant children know it even earlier.
Fourth, the temperaments of children tend to reflect those of their parents, although ther are many exceptions.
Strong-willed parents are more likely to produce tough-minded children and vice-versa.
