Temperament
Temperament is a person’s natural disposition, a biologically based inborn “filter” through which life is experienced and organized. A child’s environment can affect the ways in which temperament is exhibited but does not change the internal makeup of a child from birth. Temperament appears in physical, social, emotional, and cognitive traits. Some children are naturally quiet and reflective while others are more outgoing and social. They may sleep with a regular rhythm or resist bedtime and wake frequently. Children may be focused and persistent in attention or easily distracted (Chess and Thomas, 1986). While temperament is generally fixed, children can have characteristics of different temperaments at different times, depending on the context, and they can be gently supported to expand their repertoire through new activities and practice. Understanding their child’s temperament can help parents adjust expectations and react to puzzling or confusing behaviors in more adaptable, flexible, and effective ways. The match between parent and child temperament types is an important piece of the parenting puzzle, and acknowledging the similarities and differences will help to build understanding in how best to support your individual child.
See also:
Mentalization
Mindful Parenting Groups
Parenting Styles
Reflective Parenting Workshops
For further reading:
Galen’s Prophecy: Temperament in Human Nature by Jerome Kagan. Perseus Distribution
Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen. Random House
Positive Discipline for Preschoolers by Jane Nelsen, Cheryl Erwin & Roslyn Duffy. Random House
The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aron. Random House.
www.reflectiveparentingprogram.org