Compliance/Noncompliance of 2-year-olds during a Toy-Cleanup Procedure: Comparisons and Changes between 2004/2005 and 2010/2011

Abstract

In light of recent updates which imply delays in Japanese toddlers' self-development, this study investigated changes over the years in the compliance and non-compliance of 2 year-olds as an indicator of self-development in early childhood. We observed and examined the behaviors of 2-year-olds (N＝111) in 2004 and 2005 (Wave 1) and 2-year-olds (N＝95) in 2010 and 2011 (Wave 2), during a toy-cleanup procedure. Compared with the children in Wave 1, fewer children in Wave 2 showed a refusal reaction to the requests from strangers to clean up the toys they played with. In addition, children in Wave 2 showed more compliant reactions and less defiance or refusal toward their mothers during mother-child cleanup situations. These findings suggest that toddlers today may be experiencing delays in recognition of the difference between their and others' intentions and in expressing their will. Implications of the data are discussed, regarding changes in children's behaviors and maternal reactions with regard to self-development, or rapid changes in the parent-child environment, which may account for changes over the years in children's compliance or non-compliance.