Rex Features
A top psychologist has warned that toddlers are becoming increasingly violent and out of control when they do not get their own way.
Dr Aric Sigman, a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, says that the 'little emperors' of this 'spoilt generation' are lashing out at their mums when at home, and at other adults at school or nursery.
Dr Sigman says the age at which children are becoming violent is becoming younger and younger: 'They're swearing and throwing chairs at their teachers at younger and younger ages. It isn't surprising this is happening in a domestic setting.'
'They'll beat up their mothers if they don't get what they want now. It's a beastly combination of a sense of entitlement and a lack of respect for one's mother.'
Sigman has been analysing studies on kids' behaviour for his book, The Spoilt Generation. His findings suggested there has been a change in kids' behaviour over the year.
He claims: 'There's been a change, it's getting worse and it's going further down the age scale. I'm talking about younger and younger children, including girls, beating up their mothers and kicking them down the stairs. Mothers are ashamed to ask for help. You can't just throw your ten-year-old out of the house because she slaps you around. It's a very dark area that isn't being addressed.'
Shocking stuff, eh? Do you agree with Dr Sigman's findings?
ARE children more violent these days?