Understanding Your Child’s Temperament

A child’s temperament is an innate quality, one which they are born with.  It can be somewhat modified in the early years of life by their experiences, interactions, environment, and health. By the time a child has reached their school years, their temperament is usually well-defined.

Being aware of the characteristics of temperament can help parents better understand their child.  It can also help families navigate unique situations or settings that may not be an ideal “fit” for their child, which could lead to misunderstandings and conflict.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP,) there are at least nine characteristics that make up a child’s temperament:

• Activity level

• Approach and withdrawal

• Adaptability

• Intensity

• Mood

• Attention span

• Distractibility

• Sensory threshold

The AAP estimates that about 40% of children can be classified into the “easy” child temperamental profile. This type of child tends to have a positive mood, adapts easily to new situations and people, and shows little anxiety when faced with frustrating situations.

Another temperamental profile is considered the “shy” or “slow-to-warm-up” child. This child adapts slowly to unfamiliar surroundings and people, is hesitant when making new friends, withdraws when overwhelmed, and is more likely to show signs of anxiety.  Some children will outgrow this temperamental profile as they get older.

According to the AAP, the “difficult” or “challenging” child tends to react to the world negatively or intensely. As an infant, they may have been categorized as a fussy baby, and as a toddler, this child may have been known to throw temper tantrums. By school-age years, this child can be explosive, stubborn, intense, and adapt poorly to new situations.

When children have difficult temperaments, they usually have more behavioral problems and cause more strain on the parents and family. (It is important to distinguish a difficult temperament from other problems. For instance, recurrent or chronic illnesses, or emotional and physical stresses, can cause behavioral difficulties that are not a problem with temperament.)

For parents who need support navigating life with a shy, sensitive, or difficult child, having conversations with your pediatrician is a great place to start.  There are helpful resources that families can be referred to, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, and child psychology.