'Orchid Children': Children Who Are Impulsive Should Be Raised with Support and Nurturing

Dandelion or orchid children, which of these terms fit your child? There is a Swedish metaphor that explains the difference. A "dandelion child" is, like the dandelion, resilient and is able to adjust and even thrive even under adverse conditions. When presented with a challenging situation, they are able to cope and adjust.

On the other hand, an orchid child is a child that has to be taken cared of in very specific conditions. They do not thrive in just any environment. In fact, they do not take change very well, and are wont to suffer or act out, showing behavioral issues. Impulsive children are often considered similar to "orchid children" because they have specific needs, and when these needs are not addressed, problems may arise.

For years, different research studies on the behavior of children have pointed out that children who are impulsive are vulnerable to behavioral disorders. Psychologists define impulsivity as "erratic and poorly controlled behavior"; school, teachers consider a student "impulsive" when they act first before thinking. These are kids who attempt to do a task even when they haven't finished reading or understanding instructions; and they often blurt out answers which turn out incorrect because they didn't really think out their response.

These qualities and behaviors have been linked to increased chances of impulsive children growing up vulnerable to delinquency, substance abuse, as well as other anti-social behaviors. So is there no way to help impulsive children or orchid children? There is; and the solutions lie with parents and teachers. They should be the first to understand the real qualities of impulsive children and establish means to connect better with them, support them, and give them guidance in areas where it is needed. Impulsive children are far from hopeless, they can be taught to be disciplined and reticent; they learn from their mistakes.

According to research from from the CHU Sainte-Justine Mother-child Research Hospital and University of Montreal, impulsive children and the so-called orchid children can thrive better when they are raised in an environment that is nurturing and less coercive. The researchers even presented findings that impulsive children who were raised in less coercieve homes at the age of six and onward drank less during their adolescence compared to their peers who are considered less impulsive.

In short, in a correct environment wherein parents and teachers are aware of the need to harness the impulsiveness of children and make it work in the children's favor, the children will thrive and even achieve more than those who are not as impulsive.

To come up with their findings, the researches took into consideration the cases of 209 youth born between 1996 and 1997. It was found that those who were considered impulsive and were raised in families where they had non-coercive relationships and their mothers did not drink alcohol as much or as often as others who were non-impulsive but raised in families where the relationships with parents were coercive.

Of course there are many other factors that contribute to adolescent behavior; what cannot be dismissed, however, is the importance of healthy and happy family ties and the exposure of children to loving, nurturing parents. Children who grow up with the support and affection that they need develop far less tendencies to exercise anti-social behaviors when they grow up.

Do you agree with the study about orchid children? Let us know your opinion on the comment section.