Parents have divulged some of the most hilarious and cringe-worthy situations they’ve found themselves in, all thanks to their cheeky children. One parent shared how their child managed to stroll all the way to school with his mum’s underwear worn over his trousers. In another instance, the contents of the salt and sugar containers were swapped, resulting in an unexpectedly salty morning coffee.
Although a quarter of parents can become frustrated, research foud laughter is the most common reaction to this sort of behaviour. Most parents view their child’s mischievousness as a positive trait, believing it fosters curiosity and a sense of adventure. Four in ten also believe that a touch of naughtiness can spark creativity and problem-solving skills, while a similar percentage feel it can help children understand boundaries and how far they can push them.
The study was commissioned by Petits Filous, who has partnered with father-of-three Adam Thomas to launch a competition to find the UK’s most mischievous child. Of the 1,000 parents with children aged between 3-11 it was discovered that children are most mischievous at the age of four, with 59% of parents claiming their offspring frequently up to no good.
In another amusing incident, a little one decided to ‘rearrange’ their parent’s shaving cream, smearing themselves with a fluffy white beard, before announcing they were about to ‘shave’ the family cat. Fortunately, the parent stepped in just in time, ensuring the pet escaped unscathed.
One exhausted parent, after a strenuous morning of parenting, decided to take a nap on the sofa, only to wake up completely unaware that they had been ‘made up’ with lipstick and mascara. They were only made aware of their surprise makeover when the doorbell rang.
Professor Sam Wass, director of the Institute for Science of Early Years in East London and psychologist on Channel 4’s ‘The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds’, commented: “An increase of mischief-making among three-five-year-olds goes hand in hand with children of this age becoming wise to the theory of mind – that the thoughts in their heads are not the same as the thoughts in ours.”
“They are experimenting with the juggling act of pulling the wool over someone’s eyes. But despite this being a sign of healthy curiosity, we don’t want things to get out of control.”
The research also revealed that among families with multiple children, the youngest is often considered the most mischievous (48%). Meanwhile, 19% believe middle children are the naughtiest, and 11% think the oldest child is – although 14% reckon all their kids are equally troublesome.
Interestingly, as many as three in 10 parents believe their own children are more mischievous than others. With 11% estimating their offspring would be up to no good within just five minutes if left unsupervised.
The survey also found that 55% of all parents admitted they have been left embarrassed in public after their child caused a scene.
DR SAM WASS’S TIPS TO ENCOURAGE MISCHIEF WHILE KEEPING BOUNDARIES IN PLACE:
Respond to humour and playfulness with more of the same:
Children aged 3-6 years old often like to play little games. It can feel hard for us “sensible ones” to join in, but clamping down on playfulness and curiosity can send the wrong message. Even if you’re tired, or stressed, it’s always worth trying to see the funny side.
Explain consequences:
It’s rare that a child wants to hurt themselves – it’s much more common that they just act without thinking. When they do that, it can help to make them aware of the wider consequences of their actions. But the more gently you do this, and the more understanding you show for what motivated the mischief-making in the first place, the quicker the lesson will sink in.
Show your reasoning:
If you’re trying to encourage children to learn and to respect social rules, then it helps to show reasoning. For every rule that you have, you should be able to explain why it is in place: it’s about logic, understanding and intelligence – not force of will.
