Sensitivity to Sensory Input
An area of Temperament: Very sensitive, avoids sensory input Not very sensitive, seeks sensory input What does this mean? A child’s sensitivity to sensory input defines how much sensory input they need to feel comfortable. Some examples of sensory input are: Light Sounds Texture of fabric or food Tastes of different foods Movement, pressure, or […]
Distractibility
A characteristic of Temperament: Hyperfocused, low sensitivity Easily distracted, high sensitivity What does this mean? Distractibility is how easily a child becomes distracted when they are trying to focus. You can think of this as a type of sensitivity to things in the environment or internal feelings. What does this look like? Some children can […]
Persistence and Attention Span
A characteristic of Temperament: Little focus, disinterested Very focused, persistent What does this mean? Attention span is how long a child can focus on one activity. Persistence is how children respond when an activity is difficult or frustrating. Persistence and attention span together describe a child’s ability to stick with one task, even when it […]
Mood
A characteristic of Temperament: Negative mood most of the time Positive mood most of the time What does this mean? Mood is a child’s typical emotional state and how easy they are to please. What does this look like? Some children have an overall positive mood and outlook. They are generally easy to please. Other […]
Intensity of Emotions
An area of Temperament: Big emotions, quick to react Smaller emotions, slow to react What does this mean? Intensity of emotions is how big a child’s emotions are. It is also how quickly they have big emotions. This includes how sad, worried, angry or even happy or surprised they get. What does this look like? […]
Adaptability
A characteristic of Temperament: Outgoing, open to change Shy, prefers strict routines What does this mean? Adaptability is a child’s initial reaction to new people or situations and how easily they adjust to change. What does this look like? Some children are shy and quiet around new people and situations and have a hard time with […]
Regularity of Schedules
A characteristic of Temperament: Not regular, sleep and eat at different times each day Regular, sleep and eat at same times each day What does this mean? How regularly a child wants to eat, sleep, and use the bathroom. What does this look like? Regardless of parents’ influence, some children develop regular patterns of sleeping, […]
Activity Level
An area of Temperament: High activity, likes to be busy Low activity, likes to be still What does this mean? A child’s activity level is how much energy they have. It is also how much movement they need to feel comfortable. What does this look like? Some children are always moving, always busy. This activity […]
