RICHIE MCFARLAND CHILDREN’S CENTER

11 Sandy Point Road

Stratham, NH  03885

(603) 778-8193

www.richiemcfarland.org          

Temperament Traits: Part 1

 

This column is the first in a two part series on temperament traits in children.  This month we focus on defining different types of temperaments and their role in childhood development.  Next month's column will explain strategies for parents, caregivers and teachers for understanding and accommodating children's temperaments.

 

Susan is perplexed by the differences in her two sons, ages three and one.  "Sometimes I can't even believe they are brothers," she says.  "My older son is outgoing, loud and physical.  My younger son is quiet and shy and would rather sit on my lap than wrestle with his brother."

 

Susan is experiencing differences in her sons' personalities or temperament traits. Her older son's traits aren't better or worse than her younger son's, they are just different. Understanding these differences at an early age helps parents to better support their child's lifelong development.

 

Temperament is the way an individual behaves and responds.  Sensitivity to sights and sounds, preference for types of activities, and tolerance for new people and situations are all examples of temperament traits. Researchers believe it is the part of the personality with which each child is born.  Although the environment can influence temperament, many traits are simply inborn.

 

"Goodness of fit" is a term coined by child development researchers to describe the compatibility between the environment and a child's temperament. Children are more likely to reach their developmental potential when parents, caregivers and teachers understand the unique temperaments of children and respect their pace and style. 

 

Poorness of fit occurs when a child's temperament is not accommodated. For example, if a parent is comfortable in noisy surroundings--television turned on, vacuum cleaner running--but the child has a greater sensitivity to sounds, the child will learn behaviors to shield himself from the onslaught to his senses.  The child may scream or cry in an effort to get his parents to stop the noises.  Less assertive children may stimulate themselves in other ways such as spinning around or flapping their hands repetitively to distract themselves from the noise.   

 

The challenge for parents, caregivers and teachers is trying to accommodate a child's temperament when it differs from their own or from other children in the family, child care setting or classroom.  So often, the differences in temperaments result in frustration for both the adult and the child.  The key to reducing this frustration is for the adult to pay attention to the child's behavior and let the child know that they are valued.

 

Well known psychologist, Carl Jung offers parents this advice when dealing with challenging behavior in children, "If there is anything we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could be better changed in ourselves."

Researchers Chess and Thomas, authors of Know Your Child, have defined nine temperament categories which they believe to be present at birth.

 

¨ Activity Level.  Does your child display mostly active or inactive behavior?

¨ Rhythmicity or Regularity.  Is your child predictable or unpredictable regarding sleeping, eating and elimination patterns?

¨ Approach-Withdrawal.  Does your child react or respond positively or negatively to a newly encountered situation?

¨ Adaptability.  Does your child adjust to unfamiliar circumstances easily or with difficulty?

¨ Responsiveness.  Does it take a small or large amount of stimulation to elicit a response (i.e., laughter, fear, pain) from your child?

¨ Reaction intensity. Does your child show low or high energy when reacting to stimuli?

¨ Mood quality.  Is your child normally happy and pleasant, or unhappy and unpleasant?

¨ Distractibility. Is your child's attention easily diverted from a task by external stimuli?

¨ Persistence and Attention Span.  Persistence--how long will your child continue at an activity despite difficulty or interruptions?  Attention Span--For how long a period of time can your child maintain interest in an activity?

 

Understanding a child's temperament traits provides a framework for judging their behavior over time.  Parents and caregivers will be aware of changes in behavior that may signal an oncoming illness or a spurt in development which enables them to make better decisions concerning their child's care.

 

Zero To Three, the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families advises parents on the importance of recognizing and appreciating children's temperaments. "The better you understand what makes your child tick, the better you'll be able to nurture her talents.  You can create an environment that fits your baby--an environment that will promote her development, build on her strengths, and provide the kind of support she needs to be all she can be.  To do so, you need to take the time to tune in to what your baby is "telling you."

 

 For more information on temperament traits, refer to the Earlychildhood.com website at www.earlychildhood.com or the Zero To Three website at www.zerotothree.org.

Published by Seacoast Newspapers, 2002