| Children have been defiant probably since the birth of | | | | study on defiance in children raised in a middle-class |
| the first child on earth. As aggravating as a defiant | | | | home that were from the ages of 1 ½ to 2 |
| child can be for parents, defiant behavior in children is a | | | | ½ that led researchers to believe that defiance |
| natural part of growing up. Deciding how to deal with | | | | in early childhood is a sign of confidence and growing |
| defiant behavior is a very personal matter for parents. | | | | independence. This also found that the children who |
| Although tradition and mass opinion often determines | | | | were most defiant had mothers that were more |
| how a parent will react to a situation, choosing to | | | | cooperative, more sensitive, more interested in their |
| focus your parenting actions based on the long-term | | | | children, and had low symptoms of depression. On the |
| goals you wish for your child rather than tradition or | | | | other hand, mothers who were depressed were less |
| mass opinion can strengthen the lifelong character, | | | | likely to respond to the defiance, and the children only |
| morals and values that your child holds. | | | | learned to be overly passive when obstacles were |
| A mum spends her life working to mould her child into | | | | presented. |
| a healthy, happy independent adult. Mums also have | | | | Dealing with defiance in older children and teenagers |
| their opinions on the character traits, morals and values | | | | becomes a strategic battle in the future, but the |
| that they wish to instill in their children. These traits are | | | | important thing to remember is that your reactions will |
| instilled over time and are partially formed from our | | | | be forming the conscious and subconscious reactions |
| repeated reactions to life's every day occurrences. | | | | of our children in the future. Not all defiance is a healthy |
| The manner in which we respond to defiance will be | | | | part of growing up, and repeated threatening and |
| embedded into our children's memories and | | | | violent defiance can be a sign of Oppositional Defiance |
| experiences, and those memories and experiences will | | | | Disorder. Saying "no" and refusing to do something is |
| contribute to the child's lifelong development. | | | | far different than swearing and throwing things. |
| Society has changed drastically since Victorian times, | | | | Extreme defiant behavior can be genetically influenced |
| and even since the prosperous times of the 1950s. As | | | | and may require intervention. But normal defiant |
| information spreads and the realities of the harshness | | | | behavior should be used as a teaching tool to develop |
| of life come to light, we have discovered that children | | | | your child to be a confident, civilized and independent |
| should not be brought up with blind obedience, there | | | | thinking individual in the future. |
| are unethical governing authorities, and the world is full | | | | Defiant behavior in children is a daily occurrence that |
| of dangerous challenges to face, from a bully at school | | | | can be used to develop independent living skills, coping |
| to "stranger danger" at the park. Information has also | | | | skills and social skills. Mum and children will be happier |
| made our world more competitive. A child needs | | | | and more confident when defiance is treated as an |
| confidence to survive, and the ability to argue and be | | | | opportunity to teach independence rather than yet |
| defiant in a civilized manner to face the harsh realities | | | | another battle of authority. Keep your child's long-term |
| of life. Mum is the safest place to practice the | | | | developmental goals in mind with every reaction, and in |
| development of these skills. And these skills can be to | | | | a few decades the only battle you'll have to face will |
| be taught as early as toddlerhood. | | | | be finding the time to laugh with your child - reminiscing |
| In fact, in 2007, the journal Child Development did a | | | | about the defiant antics of the past. |