About 10% of children are genetically predisposed to having a strong-willed temperament. It has nothing to do with passive parenting or your child being “bad” or “rebellious.”
A Strong-willed or spirited child has become a common term to reference a toddler or child born with the temperament and personality traits contributing to the following qualities in a child's nature: exuberance, independence, determination, outspokenness, and at times highly emotionality and inflexibility.
There's no doubting the fact that strong-willed children can be overwhelming at times; their intelligence fills them with a need to challenge authority figures, their creativity makes them expert negotiators, and they frequently demand a great deal of attention and validation.
Here's the thing with strong-willed children: If parents and teachers don't squash it out, they will likely grow up to be passionate, strong, brave, independent adults. They will be the movers and the shakers. They will be the ones to stand up in a work meeting and disagree.
Children who are stubborn at a young age are more likely to be successful as adults, a study spanning 40 years has found. The study, published in the Development Psychology journal, followed 700 children from the age of 12 to 52.
Looking in more detail, the study found is a consistent pattern of maternal distress peaking when kids are in middle school. Moms of middle schoolers report more stress, emptiness, loneliness, life dissatisfaction, and lack of fulfillment, and they viewed their middle school children's behavior in less positive ways, ...
These children are often referred to as “strong-willed” or “spirited” children. Oppositional Defiant Disorder is the clinical term for children who demonstrate a pattern of negative, antagonistic and defiant behavior that lasts at least six months.
Angry Outbursts and Frustration: Honor and acknowledge your strong-willed child's feelings and impulses while also setting limits on their behavior: “It's okay to be angry, but it isn't okay to hit.” Arguing About Rules: Have two non-negotiable rules — respect and safety.
Parents' genes influence their own behavior (including the ways they parent their children) and children's genes influence their own behavior (including the ways they respond to their parents).
Try empathizing, giving choices, and understanding that respect goes both ways. Looking for win/win solutions rather than just laying down the law keeps strong-willed children from becoming explosive and teaches them essential skills of negotiation and compromise. Strong-willed kids aren't just being difficult.
Also, is intelligence more of a genetic or environmental trait?” If a person with a high IQ marries someone with a lower IQ, their kids could have most any IQ. The same is true for two high IQ parents (although their kids will tend to have higher IQs).
A new study shows that first-born children tend to be smarter than their siblings and second-born children are more likely to cause trouble. The University of Edinburgh study reported that the oldest child tends to have a higher IQ and thinking skills than their younger siblings.
The biggest challenge of parenting a strong-willed child is that they are remarkably persistent in their pursuits and aren't keen on being redirected. They are passionate beings and often live at full throttle. The constant power struggles of raising headstrong children often frustrate and overwhelm parents.
A study from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig found that one-third of all people have a mutated gene that makes them bull-headed. So if you're stubborn, you can credit your genetics for this one. Another word for stubborn is tenacious, right? Tenacious people never give up.
“Strong-willed people are confident and have nothing to prove. They're clear about their purpose and goals and prioritize their time and activities. They're decisive risk-takers and don't delay, seek validation, or wait for permission. Consequently, they're uninhibited by fear of failure, disapproval, or rejection.”
A condition is considered Y-linked if the altered gene that causes the disorder is located on the Y chromosome, one of the two sex chromosomes in each of a male's cells. Because only males have a Y chromosome, in Y-linked inheritance, a variant can only be passed from father to son.
Virtues such as honesty, integrity and tolerance are most likely to come from mothers while courage, laziness and a good sense of direction come from fathers, a study found.
A strong will can come across as disobedience or stubbornness, but strong-willed kids have many positive qualities. They often have the courage to stand up for what they believe in, are innovative, and have strong leadership skills.
Primary Differences between ADHD and Hyper Behaviors
A child with ADHD may find it nearly impossible to focus, or may get frustrated trying to complete a task. If your child has general impulse control or the ability to do something from start to finish, he or she probably doesn't have ADHD.
If your child is energetic and finds it hard to sit still, they may be displaying some of the signs of ADHD. But if they are also able to control their impulses and emotions, pay attention, and respond appropriately in school and at home, they are probably just an energetic individual, and not affected by ADHD.
Intelligence is also strongly influenced by the environment. During a child's development, factors that contribute to intelligence include their home environment and parenting, education and availability of learning resources, and healthcare and nutrition.
Signs of mental health problems in children include lasting sadness or worry, trouble sleeping or eating, and problems at school. If you're worried about your child's mental health, ask your child how they're feeling and listen to them.