'Bad' Children: Try a little kindness and attention (and it does wonders for hyperactivity, too)

20 April 2007

Are we born bad or do we become so? A new study among small children suggests it’s more to do with nurture than nature.

A group of socially disadvantaged children in Wales, who were raised with ‘positive parenting’ techniques – such as consistent praise and positive role models – displayed less antisocial behaviour than those who were neglected or abused.

Fewer ‘positive parenting’ children were hyperactive or had learning problems, which are normally remedied with powerful drugs.

In all, 153 parents from deprived areas with children aged between three and five participated. Of those, 104 adopted ‘positive parenting’ techniques, while the remainder continued with their usual approach to parenting.

(Source: British Medical Journal, 2007; 334: 678-82).

E-news broadcast 20 April 2007 No.352 [Subscribe]

'Bad' Children: Try a little kindness and attention (and it does wonders for hyperactivity, too)

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