Discovery and Adventurer Family
Network
Presents
How Children Differ:
Temperament & Personality
“Every child brought into the world increases the responsibility of the parents. . . .
Their dispositions, their tendencies, their traits of character are to be studied. Very
carefully should the discriminating powers of the parents be educated, that they
may be enabled to repress the wrong tendencies and encourage right impressions
and correct principles. Violence or harshness is not required in this work. Selfcontrol must be cultivated and leave its impression on the mind and heart of the
child.” Child Guidance, p. 205
What Is Temperament?
• A Set of Inborn Traits
• It Does Not Dictate What You Do
• It Influences How You Do It
• It Can Be Directed Positively or Negatively
The Nine Temperament Traits
. . . Or Sedentary?
On the go . . .
Activity Level
The Nine Temperament Traits
Distracted or Attentive?
Distractibility
The Nine Temperament Traits
. . . Or Calm?
Intense . . .
Intensity
The Nine Temperament Traits
. . . Or Unpredictable?
Predictable . . .
Regularity
The Nine Temperament Traits
Sensory Threshold
The Nine Temperament Traits
Extrovert . . .
. . . Introvert?
Approach/Withdrawal
The Nine Temperament Traits
Easily Adaptable . . .
. . . Or Slow to Adapt?
Adaptability
The Nine Temperament Traits
Persistence
The Nine Temperament Traits
Half Full . . .
. . . Or Half Empty?
Mood
The 3 Basic Types of Temperament
• Easy – Tranquil, Calm, Consistently Easy to Comfort
40%
• Difficult – Fussy, Hard to Satisfy & Comfort, Anxious
10%
• Slow to Warm Up – Timid, Reluctant, Wary of New Experiences
15%
What Is Personality?
• Combination of Nature & Nurture
• Developed Over Time
• Foundation for Character Development
• Influenced by Many Factors
Birth Order, Family Size, Life Events, Serious Ilnesses, Deaths, Family Moves,
Economic Status, Gender,
Inteligence, Age, Health, Parenting
The 5 Factor Model of Personality
OCEAN
OR
CANOE
The 5 Factor Model of Personality
Openness
•I have a rich vocabulary.
•I have a vivid imagination.
•I have excellent ideas.
•I spend time reflecting on things.
•I use difficult words.
•I am not interested in abstractions. (reversed)
•I do not have a good imagination. (reversed)
•I have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. (reversed)
The 5 Factor Model of Personality
Conscientiousness
•I am always prepared.
•I am exacting in my work.
•I follow a schedule.
•I get chores done right away.
•I like order.
•I pay attention to details.
•I leave my belongings around. (reversed)
•I make a mess of things. (reversed)
•I often forget to put things back in their proper place. (reversed)
•I shirk my duties. (reversed)
The 5 Factor Model of Personality
•I am the life of the party.
•I don't mind being the center of attention.
•I feel comfortable around people.
•I start conversations.
•I talk to a lot of different people at parties.
•I am quiet around strangers. (reversed)
•I don't like to draw attention to myself. (reversed)
•I don't talk a lot. (reversed)
•I have little to say. (reversed)
Extroversion
The 5 Factor Model of Personality
•I am interested in people.
•I feel others’ emotions.
•I have a soft heart.
•I make people feel at ease.
•I sympathize with others’ feelings.
•I take time out for others.
•I am not interested in other people’s problems. (reversed)
•I am not really interested in others. (reversed)
•I feel little concern for others. (reversed)
•I insult people. (reversed)
•I like being isolated. (reversed)
Agreeableness
The 5 Factor Model of Personality
•I am easily disturbed.
•I change my mood a lot.
•I get irritated easily.
•I get stressed out easily.
•I get upset easily.
•I have frequent mood swings.
•I often feel blue.
•I worry about things.
•I am relaxed most of the time. (reversed)
•I seldom feel blue. (reversed)
Neuroticism
Realistic Expectations
• Differentiate Childish Behavior from Challenging Temperament
• Differentiate Tired Irritability from Negative Behavior Traits
• Make sure you are not the problem by the way you react
• Don’t discourage seemingly difficult temperament traits
valuable in adult life (persistence)
They may prove
Avoiding Labels
“Bully”
“Four Eyes”
“Book Worm”
“Class Clown”
Making Adjustments
. . . Or Away
At Home . . .
Coping with Your Child’s Personality Parenting
Strategies For Very Intense Children:
•Provide activities that are soothing.
•Recognize cues that signal that intensity is rising.
•Help child learn to recognize cues that signal that intensity is rising.
•Use humor to diffuse intensity.
•Teach child to use time-out as a time to calm self-down.
•Avoid escalating intensity of child by reacting intensely.
•Give calm, clear, brief feedback.
Coping with Your Child’s Personality Parenting
Strategies for Slow-to-Adapt Children:
•Establish clear routines.
•Prepare child by discussing plans for the day when routine changes.
•Prepare child for transitions.
•Give warnings a few minutes before transition between activities.
•Allow time for closure of one activity before going on to next.
•Stay aware of number of transitions required.
•Keep transitions to minimum if possible.
Coping with Your Child’s Personality
Things to
Remember
• Become a Manager of Your Child’s Temperament
• Prepare by Pre-planning
• Learn to Distinguish Between Temperament and Learned Behavior
• Help Your Child Understand Their Temperament
• Teach Your Child that He/She is Precious to God
A Final Thought
“Everything leaves its impress upon their minds -- the countenances
they look upon, the voices they hear, the places they visit, the company
they keep, and the books they read. It is impossible to overestimate the
importance for this world and the next of the associations we choose for
ourselves and, more especially, for our children.”
Adventist Home, p. 459