Could Your Kids Be Bratty Because They Have the “Brat Gene”?

Parents with bratty children: listen up!

The scientific mumbo-jumbo

A study conducted by the University of Arizona has found a brat gene that may be responsible for non-compliant and aggressive behavior in children.

According to Yahoo’s Practical Parenting, the researchers worked with 138 kids aged 1.5 to 4.5. They looked into the children’s behavior, as well as the parenting style they received. What are the findings?

  • Kids with a specific variant of the SLC6A4 gene were more inclined to exhibit bratty behavior, despite the parenting style used on them.
  • Kids who have the gene did worse under negative parenting and improved under positive parenting.

What should you take away from the study?

  1. Having the gene is not an excuse when failing to parent bratty kids. Sorry mom and dad, this brat gene isn’t your get out of jail card. Should tests reveal that your child has this gene, it only means this: your job has officially gotten more difficult. But hey, who ever said parenting was easy?
  2. Choose positive parenting. The findings prove that having a positive parenting approach is more effective in kicking out the bratty blues than negative parenting. So, next time your child switches to Mr. Hyde, calmly get him to stop his negative behavior while being firm on consequences, should he continue to disobey you.

If anything, the study gives additional insight to child behavior. But it’s still up to you, the parents, to mold and shape your children.

Sources:
au.lifestyle.yahoo.com (Practical Parenting), Identifying the brat gene
www.smh.com.au, Brat gene found
Photo:
Creative Commons from nerissa’s ring
About Anne Mercado

Anne is the owner of Green Eggs & Moms, which offers parenting tips for moms with young kids. When she's not hunched over the computer working, you can find her reading a horror book, baking sinful treats, or counting to ten to get her kiddo to move faster.

Comments

  1. It’s all very interesting, but I’m not sure about this “so called” brat gene.
    Get Loosed | FearMy Profile

    • Yes, it is interesting indeed. Although, it is always good to have a healthy amount of skepticism when it comes to studies/researches.

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