Impulsivity – Why The Dramatic Increase?

Here are the reasons:-

Many parents with impulsive kids believe that some kids are born impulsive and others aren’t.

What all parents need to know is that every human child is born self-centred and impulsive?

From the moment a tiny tot becomes aware of the world around them and they want something, they will take it, for example a dummy or any other item that catches their eye. If they want to be picked up, they cry, and if they aren’t given what they demand, they throw a tantrum.

The parent’s role is to ensure that their child is able to control their impulses. Easier said than done!

Here are 10 warning signs that your child may be impulsive:

1. Your child takes things without asking.
2. Your child wants instant gratification and has a tantrum if his demands aren’t met.
3. Your child has no boundaries – they go into other’s rooms without knocking, they take what does not belong to them, they open the fridge without asking, they switch on the TV without asking, etc.
4. Your child has no manners.
5. Your child demands your attention whenever they want it.
6. Your child interrupts you while you are talking on the phone/bathing/cooking, etc.
7. Your child wants their own way.
8. Your child is constantly whining and nagging.
9. Your child clings to you when he can walk on his own or sit on his own.
10. Your child can’t play alone.

Why is it important to ensure that your child can control their impulses?

• An impulsive child will not be able to take on the challenges of life and will prefer to opt out rather than persevere.
• A child, who is shown how to control his impulses, will be able to behave responsibly, have respect and good manners, find it easier to socially adapt, behave appropriately in social situations, and will be able to persevere through challenges and not give up.
• A child who learns to control their impulses makes it easier for both parents to work together.

So how do you help your child control his impulses?

There are many powerful strategies which will assist you to manage your impulsive child in a manner that will reduce their impulsivity and help you manage your child more effectively in a calm effective manner.

One simple and highly effective strategy is to ensure that from the moment your child can understand, this could be as young as one year old, they can be taught manners. They can say ‘Ta’ when they want something and ‘Ta’ once you’ve given it to them.

It seems that the majority of children today are not being taught manners and take what they want without asking. From my experience, a child will take their mother’s phone out of the bag without asking. This is where our problems begin.