Welcome to our Temperament lesson
- In this section, you will learn
- What temperament is
- The eight areas of temperament
- How the environment and temperament impact each other
- How your temperament and your child's temperament impact each other
What is temperament?
Everybody is different!
Temperament is the way you interact with the world. It is not good or bad. It is something you are born with, and it does not change much as you get older.
Understanding your child’s temperament will help you understand why they do the things they do.
Areas of Temperament
There are eight areas of temperament. Click on each one to find out more.
The environment and temperament
- Different children are most comfortable and happy in different environments.
- Sometimes the environment fits with a child's temperament. At these times, they may be easy to parent.
- Sometimes the environment doesn't fit with a child's temperament. At these times, they may have difficult behaviors.
- Remember that temperament is not good or bad. It does help you understand your child's behaviors in different environments.
Example:
How would each temperament respond to watching a movie in a theater?
A child with a high activity level may have more difficult behaviors. They may need to move around. Their caregiver may need to tell them to sit still often.
A child with a low activity level may be calm and happy to sit still for two hours.
A child with big emotions may have more difficult behaviors. They may get excited by the loud sounds and funny scenes. Their caregiver may tell them to be quiet often.
A child who has low sensitivity to sounds may like the very loud soundtrack. They would probably love the movie theater.
A child who has high sensitivity to sounds likes quiet sounds. They may get overwhelmed by the loud soundtrack. They may get upset or try to run away.
A child with a very focused attention span may be easily engaged in a movie. They would probably like the movie theater.
A child with high distractibility may get distracted by the smells of popcorn or the people around them. Their own ideas may distract them, too.
Caregiver-Child Temperament Fit
You have your own temperament. You probably have a lifestyle that works well for your temperament.
Some parts of your temperament probably match your child’s. Parenting is usually easier in these areas. You and your child do things that make you both comfortable.
Some parts of your temperament are probably different from your child’s. Parenting is usually more difficult in these areas. Things that make you comfortable might make your child less comfortable.
Let’s look at four different caregiver-child combinations:
A high activity caregiver might like to be active on weekends. They may want to hike, bike, play sports, or run around with their family.
A high activity child may do great with this lifestyle. They have lots of opportunities to be active.
A high activity caregiver might like to be active on weekends. They may want to hike, bike, play sports, or run around with their family.
A low activity child may be tired and overwhelmed by this. They may complain, tantrum, or refuse to do the activities.
If this sounds like you, a few changes can help:
- Give lots of breaks during the day.
- Try pushing a young child in a stroller while you walk.
- Give an older child quiet time while you work out.
- Check on your child’s mood and energy during the day; be ready to leave your activity early if necessary.
A low activity caregiver may like to relax on the weekend. They may want to do puzzles, work in the garden, read, or go out for meals.
A high activity child may feel like they can’t do anything with all their energy. They may become hyperactive, interrupt their caregiver, or break rules to use their energy.
If this sounds like you, try to schedule active time for your child every day. This may look like:
- Going to a playground or park.
- Having play dates with their friends.
- Having a small trampoline they can bounce on.
- Creating obstacle courses
A low activity caregiver may like to relax on the weekend. They may want to do puzzles, work in the garden, read, or go out for meals.
A low activity child would do well with this lifestyle. They could also relax and focus on things they like to do.
Reflection
Think about your temperament and your child’s temperament. Rate each area of temperament below:
Understanding Temperament
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