Experts Say, Toddlers That Throw Tantrums Are More Likely to End Up Rich
Oh the joys of a kids temper tantrum. If you’ve ever been that mom trying to calm your child down in the middle of throwing a temper tantrum down the cracker isle of Target, know you are not alone. In fact, there is good news that this strong will your child is exhibiting now could pay off later…literally.
Kids Who Throw a Tantrum
I get what it’s like to tell your toddler “no” and have it seem as if the world is coming to an end.
While we all may be quick to try to bribe our kids to be quiet or do the yell-whisper tactic (you know what I am talking about) you might want to rethink your strategy because you could just be keeping your kids from becoming rich one day.
Temper Tantrum Research
Yes, Experts Say, Toddlers That Throw Tantrums Are More Likely to End Up Rich so now, we are stuck deciding whether or not to just let that tantrum happen…
Experts Say, Toddlers That Throw Tantrums Are More Likely to End Up Rich
In a recent study published in the Developmental Psychology, psychologists examined student characteristics and behaviors at age 12 to predict occupational success 40 years later over and above childhood IQ and parental socioeconomic status.
In short, they studied the behaviors in children to see how it affected their success later in life.
“We examined the influence of parental socioeconomic status (SES), childhood intelligence, and student characteristics and behaviors (inattentiveness, school entitlement, responsible student, sense of inferiority, impatience, pessimism, rule breaking and defiance of parental authority, and teacher-rated studiousness) on 2 important real-life outcomes (i.e., occupational success and income).“
Temper Tantrum Study
They examined 745 participants over a 40 year span (1968 – 2008) and what they found was that those that were among children of rule breaking and defiance of parental authority, were more likely to have success in life.
“The results revealed direct and indirect influences of student characteristics (responsible student, rule breaking and defiance of parental authority, and teacher-rated studiousness) across the life span on career success after adjusting for differences in parental SES and IQ at age 12.“
Putting Temper Tantrums into Perspective
So, the next time you are quick to jump to trying to calm your child’s tantrum, think twice. If you want them to end up rich, maybe just let this one play itself out!
But, if you really can’t handle it and are okay with your kids being broke (kidding), we have some Tantrum Tricks that might help!
More Toddler Fun from Kids Activities Blog
- Popsicle Trick to stop a tantrum
- Let’s say you have the perfect non-tantrum throwing child who you now fear will be poor. Check out these expensive LEGO sets to see if that might save their future.
- Kids how need you the most can show it in unloving ways.
- How to be more patient with your kids.
- Some really good advice from moms here at Kids Activities Blog for toddler parents/caregivers:
- Why is my toddler so rough?
- Tips to potty train a toddler.
- How to keep house clean with a toddler.
- How to photograph a toddler even if you aren’t a photographer.
- What to do when your toddler throws things.
- 100s and 100s of fun toddler activities all here at Kids Activities Blog!
Will your toddler be rich based on this study?
Shame on you for writing and propagating bad parenting without a single quote and claiming this as a fact! This sounds like a teenager attempt at writing an essay at 5th grade! My goodness!
I don’t think this is good advice. While ues, you should not break a child’s spirit you also should not condone temper tantrums on the whim that it will make them rich.
Depending on the situation-where we are at the moment, etc, sometimes it’s best to let it play itself out. If in the privacy of your own home-ensuring that child won’t hurt himself, etc. too many parents give in to what the child wants. Which will reinforce the bad behavior. In the day care where I work with toddlers this is what I do. I make sure that the child is in a safe place-especially if he is banging his head on the floor (one of my kids at day care Dora’s this). I let him try to work out his anger for 10-15 minutes. I then go to him and invite him to sit with me where I then am able to talk to him about why he is angry. If I try to stop it when he’s blowing up, it gets worse. I usually can catch him before the tantrum actually starts-then I can headcit off so to speak.
Ridiculous psychobabble at its finest.
Here’s a thought….. maybe rich kids tend to throw more tantrums, since they are often spoiled and allowed more liberty, and since they are rich kids, they are likely to be rich when they grow up…. took me exactly 2 mins to come up with a theory that makes way more sense than yours… how long did you conduct this study for? Where are your quotes and references? Disappointing.
Great input Olani! You are right. You were very quick to come up with an alternative idea which makes a lot of sense. One of the really important things we do here at Kids Activities is start conversations. So it isn’t that we want you to believe everything that is written, but have something to start thinking about! I love your theory.
Hogwash! We dont reward bad behavior. Who wants to listen to someone’s kid throwing a fit in public. This is when that parent stops what she is doing and takes the kid to the car or restroom to calm down. Why impose a screaming child upon others. Get control of the child and teach them what is appropriate.
I agree with this partially. Kids that are smarter, have more drive and an independent spirit are, in my opinion, more likely to grow up and be successful in life regardless of how they define success. These are the very kids who are hardest to raise. They are curious and so are into everything and exploring. An easily entertained child that doesn’t show much interest in exploring and pushing the limits may not be as smart or as curious and may not be as successful in life. Temper tantrums are more often seen when a strong willed child doesn’t get his way. It takes intelligence, drive, initiative and an independent spirit to know what you want and be willing to stand up for what you want…. or with toddlers…do the alligator death roll to get what you want. That does not mean tantrums should be encouraged or that parents should give in to the demands of the child having a tantrum. Kids need to learn that throwing a fit isn’t the way to negotiate. A tantrum may be a sign that the child has a good chance of success as an adult…. but adults need to be able to express their feelings and negotiate without throwing a fit. And having people give into your fits of temper will do a lot of harm and likely detract from your future success.
??? I had no idea that 12 yr olds were still considered toddlers ???
I read the article you reference. Please read the results section again. Tantrums do NOT lead to success in adults according to this article. Please stop disseminating false information.
Tantrums can represent lots of things and certainly a strong will, which of course could lead to the determination that could lead to wealth. But one absolute truth is we really don’t have as much control as we think we do over another person, young or old. However, we can control ourselves and the triggers and environments that may lead to tantrums.
Haha full of BS!
My thought is that maybe it’s because kids that throw tantrums never back down from an opportunity to get their way. Although, yeah, sure a lot of people are like, “this is ridiculous”, but if you think about it, depending on the situation, stopping a tantrum is kind of like teaching your kid to hush their mouth and not voice their opinion. I don’t throw fits when something doesn’t go my way, and I often wonder if it’s because my parents raised me to be a little mousey thing who never complains, which means I’ve probably missed out on things that could’ve made me way more successful if I had just learned to fight for it. I mean of course there is a fine line, though, because kids should definitely learn to be respectful, but I think they should also be allowed to keep that “fight for your right to party” mentality. Parenting is hard.
This article only mentions a study done on 12 year olds. Last I checked, a 12 year old wasn’t considered a toddler. There is zero information on studies done about toddlers or tantrums. Ridiculous waste of time.
I know I have raised both, neither was easy. My son who was the rule follower was also bored with most everything for his age group we had to go at least 2 years ahead of his age to even come close to keeping him interested for awhile, and no he did not have ADD OR ADHD or any other problem he was just a very curious active boy who has a very high IQ and has a very good job and has a BS of Science in Aviation and Business at age 30. My daughter on the other had was the tantrum thrower, rule breaker, ect. How ever we also had to go 2 years above her age to keep her attention. She would do the opposite of what we would say, got grounded a lot, in the principal’s office weekly. She also has a high IQ and education and a good job at age 28. Both were on the honor roll every year, graduated with honors, took most AP classes and are now very smart, respectful adults. Like I said before raising them was not easy, but every child is different too. I also have a 35 year old step-son, who broke the rules, pushed our buttons, was always in trouble and has ADHD and he also has a high IQ, and was above his age in everything too. He is also a smart respectful adult with a Masters Degree. So as I said before raising them was not easy but was different with each one. You have to learn your child and what works for that one and know it may not work for the others. Each of our children are very different and needed different was of being taught the same thing which for a parent may be very hard to figure out what that may be, but you’ll keep trying to find what works if you love them. I was fortunate to find what worked for each and I also helped them with their studies, sports, life challenges, life changes, and anything else I could be there for, it doesnt stop at 18, or when they move out, or if they get married, or have a child. I am always there for my children. They do call me several times a week sometimes every day. My input matters to them and I love being needed or wanted until the day I die. That’s being a parent, they never stop learning and neither do I.
Heather, you took all the words outta my mouth girl!
Also another thought or to add, I thought maybe bc they were able to throw the fit, they were also able to go through each emotion and learned something new about themselves and gave them time to think of different stradigies to overcome the situation they were in. It gives them more of an open mind when they have to do for themselves rather then someone always telling them to stop. They now know how to stop for themselves, yes it can be aggravating at times or make you sad listening to your child cry or throw a fit but if you really think a bout it, are you helping them or helping yourself?
Experts did not say toddlers they said 12 year olds!
In our area there are 2 boys aged between 14-16 living in a tent, taking drugs & doing the most disgusting things in peoples yards like using them as toilets, when told to pick it up they tell people to F OFF. These boys have been trouble from a young age & have thrown many tantrums & still do if they ask for money & you say no to them then the tempers are really out of hand. So many people have tried to get them into rehab but they cause so much drama that they get told to leave or they break out themselves. Even the police have given up with arresting them because they say it’s just a waste of time because the boys don’t want to change. Believe me these boys Will NEVER be rich so from me -SORRY but this is not good advise.