• Question: Why are children so stroppy?

    Asked by vinequeen5339 to Andrew, Ash, Gem, Paige, SJ on 28 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Gemma Staite

      Gemma Staite answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      I believe that it is often linked to them pushing the boundaries, a way of them learning what they can get away with and just how far they can push it. Also though I think it is often because they are bored or they just get frustrated, because they can’t explain what they want or get their point across clearly.

    • Photo: Paige Brown

      Paige Brown answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      I think I would be stroppy too if the emotional centers in my brain were not fully developed, and I couldn’t communicate clearly everything I was thinking because I hadn’t learned the communication and social skills that come later in life!

    • Photo: SarahJayne Boulton

      SarahJayne Boulton answered on 1 Jul 2012:

      Stroppy? Children? You should see the some of the strops I’ve seen talented and gifted brainy researchers throw! Microscope slides and pens everywhere!

      But really – I’m going to jump on the frustration bandwagon as kids generally have a lot to be frustrated about as Paige and Gem have highlighted. Up until you’re 7 years old, your still building up white brain mass in the your the frontal cortex and your parietal cortex which is where you do all your complex big thoughts, like about action and consequence, reasoning and weighing up values.

      Kids probably see things a lot more simply than adults do, I mean, clearly they do, and their frustration could stem from their being unable to grasp the fully gravity of a se of circumstances.

      And now I feel really old and terrible.

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