Achieving Language Skills Early Reduces Temper Tantrums at School

Language skills of a child can predict whether he/she will exhibit temper tantrums at school, researchers say.

Researchers from the Pennsylvania State University found small children who attained language skills very early more successful in managing frustration when they start going to school.

"This is the first longitudinal evidence of early language abilities predicting later aspects of anger regulation," Pamela M. Cole, principal investigator of the study, said in a news release.

To analyze the relationship between development of language skills and later anger control, Cole and colleagues followed 120 white children between 18 and 48 months of  age. All the children were above the poverty line, but below middle income families.

Through lab-based tests, researchers measured and recorded children's language skills and ability to control frustration.

For one of the tests, children were asked to wait for their mothers to finish their work to open a gift. Children were made to wait almost eight minutes. Self-control and anger of the children were examined. Researchers found children controlling their frustrations through asking questions like "Mom, are you done yet?" or "I wonder what it is?" according to a Medical Xpress Press release.

Children who attained language skills early and quickly were found displaying less anger at age four compared to other children, whose language skills developed very slowly.

"Better language skills may help children verbalize rather than use emotions to convey needs and use their imaginations to occupy themselves while enduring a frustrating wait," Cole, explained.

The study is published in the journal Child Development.

Following are some recommendations provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that help in a baby's healthy development:

* Talk to the baby in calm voice

* Respond when the baby makes sounds, this will help in the child's language development

* Read to the baby regularly, to help him/her understand language and sounds

* Singing and playing music help in brain development

* Admire or praise the baby more often