For quite some time—since the 1940s—it’s been assumed that toddlers struggle with aggression because of their lack of communication skills. However, a new study may debunk this theory altogether by associating both language development and aggression levels with particular styles of parenting.
“Since the 1940s, studies have observed an association between physical aggression problems and language problems among children and adolescents. It was also demonstrated around ten years ago that physical aggression problems arise in early childhood when language develops,” Lisa-Christine Girad, a postdoctoral researcher with the Research Unit on Children’s Behavior Problems (GRIP) and lead author on the recent study, told Science Daily. “We wanted to see if this physical aggression/language association existed in toddlers between 17 and 72 months, and if so who influenced whom.”
In a longitudinal study of 2,057 French- and English-speaking Quebec children recruited from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD), GRIP asked parents to evaluate the frequency of physical aggression and the language abilities of their children at 17, 29, 41, 60, and 72 months. The parents’ behaviors—punitive and affectionate behavior—were also assessed in the study.
Results showed a correlation between the physical aggression and quality of language development between ages 17 months and 41 months. And children who had low language skills at 17 months were found to commit more acts of physical aggression at 29 months, and the level of aggression at 29 months seemed to be linked to lower language skills at 41 months. However, the association was low, the researchers said. In addition, the correlation completely disappeared at 41 months; this could be explained by the fact that the 17-to-41 month period was marked by a significant development of both language development abilities and a high frequency of physical aggression.
“Humans use physical aggression most often between 17 and 41 months,” Richard E. Tremblay, a professor of Departments of Psychology and Pediatrics at the Universite de Montreal, who supervised the study, told Science Daily. “After this period, the vast majority of children have learned to use other means besides physical aggression to get what they want, which reduces the likelihood of an association between aggression and language delays in a representative population sample.”
For this reason, the findings suggest that, from a large representative population sample, aggressive behaviors in toddlers aren’t motivated by language delays, nor are language delays caused by issues with physical aggression during the toddler years.
“We must look elsewhere for that explanation. We know that genetic and neurological factors play a role in the development of these two types of behavior,” Tremblay said.
However, there may be other factors, the researchers say. For example, affectionate parenting was associated with low aggression levels AND good language development in children. This means that it is possible that the affectionate behaviors of parents facilitate both language learning and the learning of acceptable alternatives to getting what they want. Of course, it could also be possible that low aggression levels and good language development in children make it easier for parents to be affectionate toward their children, the researchers said.
“This study, which is the first longitudinal study to examine associations between physical aggression and language abilities throughout early childhood, is in line with our work on the development of children’s physical aggression. It allowed us to look at what the problem was, exactly, and when it appears during early childhood,” Tremblay said. “Other studies during the first three years of life are necessary; in particular, to better understand the effects of parenting behavior and genetics that may explain the association between physical aggression and language development.”
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This association of affectionate parenting and happier, less aggressive, more verbal children is so important. And there is scientific evidence to back it up! We know now that imitation is the most powerful way children learn. So when we hit them, they learn that physical abuse is the way to solve relationship issues, a lesson we then blame them for when they grow up to be abusive to others. Much better is an approach to managing children’s behavior that is firm but loving. I call this loving regulation, and it is the approach advocated in the parenting book, Smart Love: The Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Regulating, and Enjoying Your Child. Loving regulation teaches children that we can disagree with another person’s behavior and still love and cherish that person. Also when children’s behavior is managed with love, they are more likely to develop into articulate beings who are not afraid to “speak their minds.”