From the start, my 3 children have been very different \u2013 even when I was pregnant with them they felt different. One kicked and rolled constantly, one was so still he worried me \u2026 and one, well she just made me eat a lot of donuts! As babies and young children their innate differences became clear as they grew into teens. One is still more physical, one quite chill, and the other is a happy, fun, donut lover.<\/p>\n
Everyone has their own temperament; their natural patterns, preferences, and personality. Temperament is a child\u2019s individual way of reacting to the world, based on biological traits.<\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
As parents, we can\u2019t change our child\u2019s temperament. However, by understanding it, you\u2019ll be able to better understand their behavior \u2013 even when it seems challenging to deal with. You\u2019ll be able to adapt your style of communication and discipline to fit the child\u2019s personality \u2013 allowing them to learn better.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re curious about your young child\u2019s temperament, think about their:<\/p>\n
In addition, consider:<\/p>\n
Nine Temperament Traits<\/strong><\/p>\n There are 9 traits that work together to form temperament. Remember, these are pre-set preferences \u2013 the way an individual reacts to the world. Think of them as pieces of a puzzle that make your child unique.<\/p>\n Physical activity.<\/strong> Temperament affects how much your child needs to physically move each day.<\/p>\n Regularity (daily activity pattern)<\/strong>. Watch your child to see if they eat, sleep, and have a bowel movement(s) at about the same time each day, or if routines and patterns are not very important.<\/p>\n Curious or cautious<\/strong>. How does your child respond to new people and new situations?<\/p>\n Adaptability<\/strong>. Note how well your child adjusts to changes. Some go with the flow, while others get upset by the unexpected. For example, a child may get upset when having to use a green cup instead of the usual blue cup. Is your child able to easily adapt to a new setting or not?<\/p>\n Intensity.<\/strong> This refers to how strongly your child responds to a situation. Positively or negatively? Calmly and low key or with a lot of emotion?<\/p>\n Mood.<\/strong> Is your child generally happy or unhappy? Once upset, does your child recover quickly or remain upset for some time?<\/p>\n Persistence\/frustration reaction<\/strong>. Some children quickly become frustrated by limits or by lack of immediate success in play or learning. Other children continue with play and learning and patiently accept limits.<\/p>\n Distraction.<\/strong> Can you easily distract your child from a task or bad mood by talking or by offering another activity? Also, can your child continue to focus on a task without becoming easily distracted?<\/p>\n Sensitivity.<\/strong> Is your child comfortable or easily overstimulated in a busy environment? Think about how sensitive your child is to:<\/p>\n Understanding these traits is important \u2013 it allows you to adapt your parenting style to your child\u2019s needs. For instance, you can:<\/p>\n How well your child\u2019s temperament fits with their environment and parenting style can also play a role in their self-esteem.<\/p>\n Understanding temperament will make your job as a parent easier and your child happier.<\/p>\n Find more resources for parents:<\/p>\n\n
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