To think more demanding toddlers or babies tend to become more intelligent adults?

[Bumpitybumper]

I've heard this theory a few times but what do you think?

By the way you probably have guessed correctly that I'm hoping this is the reason for my toddler's "challenging" behaviour Please tell me I'm not clutching at straws here and that I am dealing with a future Einstein or something.

i don't think so - however that level of determination and drive can't hurt in life - at least that's what I decided to belive at the time.

I used to think that, but it hasn't worked that way for mine. I had one very challenging toddler, who now in his teens is super bright and so well behaved its incredible to think hes the same child. I also had one off the scale chilled out one who also is super bright. (and now a challenging teen!) Run of mill schooling and parenting.

From experience of all my parent friends the challenging toddlers tend to grow into lovely teens and the angelic toddlers turn into teenage devils. So looking on the bright side, your now challenging dc will be heavenly as a teenager. And to be honest I'd rather have it that way round!

My incredibly demanding baby was CMPI and has sensory issues, and "has ASD traits" according to the school SENCO. She's also fairly bright but not exceptional.
My (comparatively) easy baby/toddler taught herself to read age 3 and seems exceptionally switched on, but doesn't start school until September, so we will see...

Ha ha ha

No

I'm loving the posts about challenging toddlers becoming easy older children/teens. Another angle I can delude myself about

It's certainly possible that there's a link. I.e. children on the spectrum (i.e. aspergers etc) are more likely to have "issues" and be challenging. At the same time, they are also more likely to be "gifted" academically. So, perhaps the connection is the spectrum.

I was a very chilled out baby /toddler /child/teen. I'm also a very chilled out adult. I'm definitely clever (school g&t, a*s without really trying, pick new things up very quickly /easily etc).

My son though is a not at all chilled out child and was a very demanding baby and toddler. He's also very intelligent (doing maths two years above his school year for fun, discusses quite complex topics, etc; and he is much much more sporty already than I will ever be)

I had one nightmare child and one laid back. Both are equally smart. Nightmare got a First I have to say but laid back is still at uni so I can't compare.

3 kids.

dc 1 always been demanding, has got easier and easier as he gets older, now 15 and actually quite a nice teen, even though he is very opinionated. Clever, at super selective grammar, but actually not really academic, like a young Alan Sugar.

dc2 very gentle easy going, easiest child in every way. Very clever in her own quiet way, probably more so than dc1, but not a risk taker, more likely to be an Oxford Don, reminds me of Mary Beard. Also at a superselective, hard worker (dc1 doesn't do any work)

dc3, very, very emotional child, not demanding exactly, but needy emotionally, had spectacular melt downs. Always in a fix as a toddler (had to toddler proof the house more than for dc1 and 2)
She has some traits on the autistic spectrum eg dealing with change, but not enough to get a diagnosis.
Clever, but may not pass 11+ if she worries too much.

So, on balance.
No.

As a dm of many, I can look back and say the hard work /challenging /wanna- lock- yourself- in- a - cupboard- to - get- some- peace dc have become similar style adults!!
The easy going dc are the same but bigger!!
Sorry!!

I was the 'academic' child in our family and I was a terrible sleeper and grumpy baby. The doctor told my mother 'if it's any consolation, they usually turn out to be quite intelligent'. So she was convinced of this theory. I wasn't always the nicest teenager through I never got into trouble, just answered back a lot!

It's my super chilled, sleeping, easy DS who is the academically gifted one in this house. Mind you, DS2 barely slept a wink before the age of two and he's still doing pretty well at school, so who knows...

@Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname
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Hahahaha that's just nonsense to try and make people feel better. Ok my difficult toddlers are quite bright, but my brightest child was actually my easiest toddler!

People also say this about sleep!

Bad sleep = highly intelligent.

I suspect people say this to make others (like me) feel like their months and months of sleep deprivation hell will all be worth it in the end haha!

Also probably rubbish! :)

DS is challenging and very hard work.....he is also wholly average academically (granted, he is one of the youngest in his year). He is very sweet but no sense whatsoever. I'm still supporting his dream of being an 'astronaut doctor', but I'm not putting money on it

I agree with the PP who said that the children who question more, can tell the time early etc tend to be more intelligent - they may seem more ‘challenging’ in that respect - in that you can’t get away with fobbing them off like you can with more ‘ordinary’ children. Certainly been the case with my two - my eldest is very, very smart and had a very low boredom threshold as a toddler (once she could read it became far easier) and consequently felt hard work. My youngest is more middle-of-the-road academically and was, and still is, a sheer delight.

So from my experience there’s something in it, but judging from other posts, it’s not a given!

Bad sleep = highly intelligent. Well, astronaut doctor is definitely out; DS sleeps like the dead.

^As a dm of many, I can look back and say the hard work /challenging /wanna- lock- yourself- in- a - cupboard- to - get- some- peace dc have become similar style adults!!
The easy going dc are the same but bigger!!
Sorry!!^

This ^ Sorry!

bad sleep = highly intelligent

no.

3 highly intelligent kids, 3 good sleepers

I hope so because of it is correct my son will be a genius

I hope so but i doubt it.

If it is, Ive got reincarnations of Artistotle and Enstein sleeping in Peppa Pig PJs tonight in my house.

I hope the world is appreciative of all our efforts raising these future geniuses.

I'm sorry. I've worked with children for years. Some are just high maintenance with no extra special gifts.

Although, the variety of humanity never fails to suprise me.

Definitely doesn’t work that way. My DD was a super easy baby/toddler and continues to be an easy child, and she is very intelligent. I am super intelligent and I was a very quiet, easy child.

My first was a very challenging toddler. Is now 17 and applying for Harvard/Stanford etc.

My second was a very easy toddler. Now 15 and just averaged 98% in her school grades for the year.

My third was a very easy toddler. B/C student.

I'd say no correlation.