Intervene according to the child's temperament

Here are some tips to learn how to better intervene according to the different variants that make up your child's personality.

In the previous article, we discussed the three types of temperament found in children and the nine dimensions on which this classification is based. Today we will focus on the following five dimensions: your child's level of activity, the regularity of their routines, their reaction to new experiences, their ease with being distracted and their general mood.

How to intervene with an active child?

• Accept his desire to move by giving him regular opportunities to run, climb or jump. Alternate with quieter activities that require his fine motor skills. For example, crafts or games of skill.
• Teach him to be aware of the speed at which he moves using imitation games, taking care to qualify the proposed action (e.g.: a frog jumping energetically, a slowly stretching cat, etc.).
• Encourage him to verbalize what he thinks rather than letting him express himself through actions.
• Provide him with a framework in which the instructions and limits are clear.

How to intervene with a passive child?

• Give him the time he needs to complete his tasks.
• Play sports with him or play with a ball/balloon to improve his coordination.
• Avoid criticizing him by saying things like “stop being lazy! ". Not only will he not be more motivated to do the activity, but this kind of criticism directly affects his self-esteem.
• Don't let his peers get the better of him. Instead, encourage him to actively participate in the ongoing activity, taking his rightful place.
• Celebrate his successes when he achieves something.

How to deal with a regular child in his routines?

• Stick to her routine as much as possible, even on special occasions (party or vacation).
• Take the time to explain each transition and/or routine change in advance.

How to deal with an irregular child in his routines?

Accept this aspect of his personality, while taking care to enact social rules not to transgress

For example, if you are invited to a friend's house for dinner and your toddler says that he is not hungry, do not force him to eat, but ask him to stay at the table with the others until the end of the meal.

How to react to a child resistant to new situations?

• Support him in unusual situations, byexposing it for a limited time at first, while increasing the duration over time.
• Reassure him in case of the unexpected.
• Encourage him when he has to participate in a new activity by stimulating his creativity (e.g. tell him that we are preparing for a special experience and emphasize the aspects likely to interest him).
• Motivate him to show initiative (e.g. let him determine the activity to do).
• Regularly invite friends home that he feels comfortable with and encourage him to take their place in the group.
• Encourage him to share his tastes and emotions with you, and do not hesitate to show him your appreciation when he does so.

How to react to a child attracted by novelty?

• Watch him carefully to make sure he is safe.

• Tell him to restrain himself a little when he meets new playmates. For example, tell him to approach them quietly, to be gentle with them, etc.

• Try to control their expectations when faced with each new situation… a child who is easily enthusiastic may sometimes be disappointed when faced with a new activity if it is less exciting than what he had envisioned.

What to do with a child who is easily distracted?

• Favor a restricted and closed place when he has fun and limit the number of toys at his disposal.

• Keep away from his sight anything that might interfere with his concentration.

• Set clear boundaries and make sure instructions are understood.

• Praise him warmly when he accomplishes a task.

• Ask him to concentrate on a given task, while giving him little moments of respite.

What to do with a child who is not easily distracted?

• Avoid interrupting what he is doing as much as possible while he is concentrating.

• Try to teach him that an activity must end at a certain time and warn him at the appropriate time.

• If your child prefers to have fun alone, insist that he socialize with other young people his age and make sure he takes part in the activities.



How to deal with a child who is upset and unpleasant most of the time?

• Explain to him the positive sides of the situation he is facing, while taking care not to minimize what he feels, because he may feel misunderstood.
• Reassure him by clearly explaining the procedure to him.
• Don't delay removing him when his reaction starts to get out of hand. This will give him a break and gradually help him calm down.
• Teach him acceptable ways to channel his negative energy (e.g. hitting a pillow).
• Indulgeregularly in activities he enjoys.

How to encourage a child in a pleasant mood?

• Do not skimp on positive reinforcement, telling him how much you appreciate his good mood, the way he behaves with others, etc.
• Remember to teach him safety rules with strangers, because this type of child tends to trust everyone he meets.

Discovering your child's strengths and limits can sometimes be confrontational. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that each child is unique, just like the parent is too. Instead of "punishing" a behavior, it's about encouraging your child to develop other attitudes and reactions so that he learns to live in harmony with his environment.

A next article will follow over the next few weeks to explain the parenting strategies to adopt based on the last four dimensions. See you soon!