Parenting Tips & News Served With a Side of Humor

From the archive

Fathers May Influence Their Daughter’s Ambitions More Than Moms Do (Sorry, Moms)

We often hear (or in this case, read) the phrase “Mother Knows Best.” But have you ever heard of a father knowing best? While no one has ever coined a phrase for that, we’re all...

From the archive

5 Things I Secretly Think of When My Child Is Acting Up

Disclaimer: Turn away now if you have no sense of humor. This was written in the name of humor and to keep parents entertained from life’s daily demands. Also, in no way, shape,...

From the archive

The Christopher Chronicles: A Book Review

I hear you. Parenting can be stressful…really stressful. But it’s not all despair and frustration. There are moments that make you want to leap into the air with a great big...

From the archive

Keeping Christ in Christmas–Green Eggs & Moms Style!

I’m participating in the Keeping Christ in Christmas Blog Carnival, hosted by Raising (& Teaching) Little Saints, Truly Rich Mom and Arma Dei: Equipping...

From the archive

On Bullying: Bullies and Those Who are Bullied

Do you know how to tell if your child is being bullied? Keeping kids safe on the playground during recess is more than just preventing falls or injuries. A huge part of keeping...

Wednesday, 7 October 2026

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

From the archive. This post was first published on the original Green Eggs and Moms blog and is kept here as it was.

Are you part of our mailing list yet? Get free weekly updates by CLICKING HERE. 

Angry 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

Related posts:

  1. Can infants pick up on negative parenting? A study suggests they can
  2. Happy Kids: Nature Vs Nurture?
  3. Rewarding Negative Behavior Without Knowing it. Put a Stop to it Now!
  4. Depressed? You Increase Behavioral & Emotional Problems in Your Kids
  5. Get To Know Your Children To Raise Them Better

More from this category