Is name calling/insulting when angry a human instinct?

[lucyellensmum]

The reason i ask is that just lately, well this week, my DD (2.5) has taken to calling me a fat monster when she is cross with me. She usually says, go away fat monster! I mean, whats that all about, she most certainly hasnt heard us calling each other names and fat monster? I try my best to curb my language in front of DD but i can safely say that i dont tend to call anyone fat monsters! A friend of mine told me about her dd, the same age, who was cross with her and turned to her and said "you're massive!" I am a bit of a heiffer, but my friend is a size 8!

I think its quite cute, but i just wondered if that form of expression is something developmental, rather than learnt. Does that make any sense?

has she just started pre-school

no, so its weird. Its not a problem, more of a curiosity. I probably should see it as a problem, but she is just too cute

oh, just ignore it then. And try not to laugh, it just encourages 'em to do it even more

I think this is great- she can express hersef verbally rather than physically lashing out and hitting etc when cross. You're obviously doing something right!

I'd much rather my son called me a smelly old pooh head that whack me with a toy (he does't do either yet which I'm quite pleased about)

I agree though, "fat monster" is quite cute!

DS (three next week) has started on "I'm not your friend any more" when he's annoyed with me (and sometimes "I am very cross with you", which I tend to feel is more constructive). He also stomps away shouting "Leave me alone!"... it's almost as though we are hitting the teenage sulks already.

Swearing in adults when angry is a pretty universal human instinct (there's some interesting discussion of that in Steven Pinker's latest book), but I don't think "fat monster" from a 2yo falls into quite the same category.