Is there such a thing as a 'naughty child'?

A 'self fulfilling prophecy' is what we call it when a child is branded and therefore feels they have to live up the role expected of them. Obviously some children are branded and in rebellion become the opposite but most children take the expectation and live up to it. I'm from a church family, and so it's easy to see in our household. We grew up watched by the church and expected to be middle class, well behaved children, who knew how to be polite and respected authority. Hence most of us fullfilled that role, acting as we are expected to made our lives easier, made adult responses to us more predictable. However one sibling did not like the lable and therefore did not behave as expected. it's no surprise that that one sibling still does not attend church all these years later, or that their life is markedly different to the rest of ours. Psychology has long know the power of labeling children, expecially positive reinforcement to behaviour. By labeling a child 'naughty' you are doing so many things wrong, reinforcing their bad behaviour, and giving them an identity in misbehaviour. Educationalists tell teachers never to call a child bad or naughty just to lable the behavour that way.

How naughty is being naughty? I think that there is no such thing as a naughty child. Childrens have free spirit. they do what they do and not think about it. they do not understand whats the true meaning of being naughty because all they want to know is play and enjoy. We mature people should not brand a child as naughty because they may be remembering it every time they tend to do things and wait for us to say the word naughty and do over and over again. Letting the child be a child is the best way to understand them, we all have child sides on ourselves.

oF COURSE THERE ARE NAUGHTY CHILDREN BUT IT IS NOT THE CHILD'S FAULT it's the parents. People don't make their children mind like they should so much of the time.

Hi oldchem1!I completely agree with you.Children have more passion to look for new things and think about the world.They ask "why" more than adults who suffered from the true society too much that lose thier ablity to ask.In my childhood my mother often ask to do this and not to do that,but I usually do not listen to her,I will find my answer by trying this or that,then came to a conclusion whether I should do or not~~

It is not healthy to tag any child "naughty".Since we also used to do lot of mischief in our childhood.Being teaching as my profession I came across various kids who do mischief.There might be lot of psychological,social or biological reasons behind that.I know a friend of mine whose child is going through such phase.It may be the reason that his father don't stay with them.He sometimes becomes so aggressive that he throws all the stuffs around him.So I think every child should be given proper attention by their parents and at least people/couples should think before they get married and gave birth to a child only if they are actually prepared to take the responsibility.

I guest you are right children defend on us grown ups, everything they see on us they just simply copy it, I suggest to surely guide your children while they are still young, and also one of the key why they are becoming naughty is lack of attention,

Children are not naughty but its how the parents react when a child does some thing naughty that might keep them either doing th e naughty thing or learning the right way to do it. Parents are the main role models in a child's life. Children need lots of love and some discipline thrown in when they misbehave. Be consistent and your child will grow up to be a wonderful adult.

Hiya chem, The other week I saw an example of a 3 month old Baby already "pushing those Buttons" to get what she wants. She is a very lovely little Baby and very strong and she already knows what´s what bless her. I don´t think Children are really naughty either but they push their boundaries if they are allowed to just to see how far they can go.

I believe there is! this possibly common to this much pampered child by their parents, oftentimes they come out to a family that the parent is less concern to attitude of their children

There's nothing called a naughty child. because a child is felt naughty only because he is observed to be restless , that may be because of lack of food, heat, temperature, crowd and even people around him and their body odour. Definitely by branding a child 'naughty' will destroy their self confidence and image.They have o be carefully handled. Growing child is an art. Not everybody can master it.Children mis behave basically depending on their environment. for example your child may be a smart and silent one. but when he is taken to a new place. he becomes restless and naughty. that means he doesn't like that place or he hasn't got adapted to it yet. they do everything by seeing from adults only. Laughing , eating, watching TV, books, remote control, mobiles etc; thereby attracting people around them.