Take a good look at temperament and personality in your children.
Score this easy assessment to discover your child’s uniqueness and personality.
Then… MATCH your parenting style with your child’s temperament
For example look at your child’s Activity Level – What does it mean? It means the level of child’s daily activities (what is your activity level?)
My child has difficulty sitting still, even for reasonable periods of time.
Yes No Sometimes
At regular intervals my child needs physical activity as an outlet for excess energy.
Yes No Sometimes
My child prefers play that involves movement instead of quiet play.
Yes No Sometimes
My child moves rapidly and likes to run rather than walk.
Yes No Sometimes
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Regularity – What does it mean? It means thelevel of child’s daily regularity (what is your regularity level?)
My child goes to sleep and awakens at the same time each day (within the half hour).
Yes No Sometimes
My child gets hungry at about the same time each day.
Yes No Sometimes
My child has a bowel movement at about the same time each day.
Yes No Sometimes
My child sleeps about the same number of hours each night.
Yes No Sometimes
My child eats about the same amount of food each day.
Yes No Sometimes
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Intensity of Reaction – What does it mean? It means thelevel of child’s daily stress and intensity of reactions and emotions (what is your intensity of reactions?)
My child shows emotions with facial expressions, body language, or verbal intonations.
Yes No Sometimes
It is obvious when my child is under stress.
Yes No Sometimes
My child gets enthusiastic and excited when telling a story.
Yes No Sometimes
My child reacts immediately and vigorously when the child feels rights have been violated.
Yes No Sometimes
My child reacts with enthusiasm and excitement to special events, trips, or visitors -rather
than taking things "coolly."
Yes No Sometimes
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Adaptability to New and Novel Situations– What does it mean? It means thelevel of child’s
ability to adapt to new situations (what is your adaptability to new situations?)
My child learns to like food that was once disliked.
Yes No Sometimes
My child easily "makes himself/herself at home" in new surroundings by easily adapting
to the new life-style or set of rules that apply.
Yes No Sometimes
After a break in routine, such as a trip or school vacation, my child easily gets back into the routine.
Yes No Sometimes
My child gets over attacks of shyness rapidly.
Yes No Sometimes
My child changes the rules or format for games and play.
Yes No Sometimes
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Sensory Threshold– What does it mean? It means thelevel of child’s sensitivity to changes in environment, comfort level, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching (what is your sensory threshold?)
My child is conscious of odors and comments on pleasant and unpleasant smells.
Yes No Sometimes
My child is sensitive to temperature and apt to complain that a room is too hot or too cold or that food is not the right temperature.
Yes No Sometimes
My child cries easily when suffering any minor injury or bruise.
Yes No Sometimes
My child complains when clothing is too tight, itchy, ill-fitting, or if it becomes dirty or damp.
Yes No Sometimes
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Positive/Negative Mood – What does it mean? It means thelevel of child’s friendliness vs. aggressive or argumentative behavior
My child laughs, smiles, and seems to be having a good time.
Yes No Sometimes
When my child is upset, it is easy to comfort the child.
Yes No Sometimes
My child takes losing a game in stride, without upset.
Yes No Sometimes
My child avoids arguments when when not given own way.
Yes No Sometimes
My child tends to tell me about the good things that happen, avoiding complaints and criticism.
Yes No Sometimes
______________________________________________________________________
Distractibility – What does it mean? It means thelevel of child’s ability to concentrate, adjust his reaction and vary his attention span (how do you react?)
My child's concentration is easily broken by noises, other children, or whispering.
Yes No Sometimes
My child is set on one particular toy or activity, but it is easy substitute another.
Yes No Sometimes
My child is in a bad mood, but snaps out of it easily.
Yes No Sometimes
My child is easily distracted in most situations.
Yes No Sometimes
When the child is involved in a task, the child responds quickly when told it is time to stop and drops everything.
Yes No Sometimes
_____________________________________________________________________________
Persistence/Attention Span – What does it mean? It means thelevel of child’s determination and pursuit of previous or current activities in social settings where others are involved (how do you react to interruptions, persistent questioning and time constraints?)
When my child is interrupted, the child does not go back to the same activity.
Yes No Sometimes
When my child is learning something new, the child is easily frustrated and wants to do something else.
Yes No Sometimes
If I am too busy to answer a question, the child goes away and does not come back later for the answer.
Yes No Sometimes
My child dislikes doing the same thing for a long period of time and doesn't finish what is started.
Yes No Sometimes
If my child has difficulty with a problem, rather than solve it, looks for outside assistance.
Yes No Sometimes
_____________________________________________________________________________
Approach/Withdrawal – What does it mean? It means thechild’s level of approachability vs. withdrawal from new or unfamiliar settings in social and emotional situations (how do you react to new situations, unfamiliar food, new surroundings and performing in public?)
My child likes to perform in front of others.
Yes No Sometimes
My child is outgoing when it comes to meeting new people.
Yes No Sometimes
My child enjoys jumping into new activities and new situations rather than holding back .
Yes No Sometimes
My child prefers new toys or clothes to old, familiar ones.
Yes No Sometimes
My child enjoys trying new foods or experiencing new surroundings.
Yes No Sometimes
_____________________________________________________________________________
Now that you have completed the assessment, see how you can improve your parenting style. MATCH your parenting style with your child’s temperament and behavior.
