Temperament is a child's inborn way of responding to the world, including activity level, adaptability, mood and the intensity of their reactions. It is not caused by parenting, but parenting can be adapted to fit it.
Key takeaways
- Researchers often describe children as easy-going, slow to warm up, or more intense and sensitive.
- Core temperament traits are fairly stable over time.
- There is no "good" or "bad" temperament.
What you can do
- Notice how your child reacts to new people, places and changes.
- Give slow-to-warm-up children extra time to adjust.
- Offer predictable routines for intense or sensitive children.
