Temperament – Inborn Differences

How is it that some parents can have children who are so different from each other?  Part of the difference can be understood as variations in “temperament.”  Nine factors are considered when looking at children’s differing temperaments.  Awareness of these factors can be particularly useful when looking at preschoolers, but continues to be a reference point throughout one’s lifetime.

  1. Activity level: How active is the child?   For example, how much does she move during bathing, eating, or playing?  How much does she fidget and seem to be restless?  Does her motor activity vary greatly through the day?
  2. Rhythmicity (regularity): Does the child wake up and go to sleep at about the same time each day? Does he have bowel movements at regular times?  Does he get hungry on schedule?  Or, does everything seem to happen at differing or unpredictable times?
  3. Approach or Withdrawal: How does the child react to new situations?  Does she seem to enjoy them and seek them out?  Or, does she get bothered easily and have trouble with new toys, foods, or experiences?  How about when she tries to meet new people?  Does she approach new things easily, or does she withdraw from them?
  4. Adaptability: How easily does the child accept change in routines and activities?  How adaptable is he?
  5. Threshold of Responsiveness: Is the child extremely sensitive, or does it take an explosion to get her attention?
  6. Intensity of Reaction: How strongly does the child respond to things?  Does he respond intensely or mildly to new stimuli?
  7. Quality of Mood: The amount of pleasant, joyful, and friendly behavior, as contrasted with unpleasant, crying, and unfriendly behavior.  Are her moods positive or negative?
  8. Distractibility: How easily is the child disturbed by irrelevant things?
  9. Attention Span: How long can she pay attention?

Temperament isn’t good or bad.  No child is exactly like any other child, and the differences are what make them special.  Try to learn about children without judging them.

Temperament is not a good predictor of adult success.

Adapted from Temperament handout from THISISIT, INC., 1994