NINE TEMPERAMENT NINE TEMPERAMENT TRAITS OF INFANTS TRAITS OF INFANTS

AND TODDLERSAND TODDLERS

NINE TEMPERAMENT NINE TEMPERAMENT TRAITS OF INFANTS TRAITS OF INFANTS

AND TODDLERSAND TODDLERSby Mary Ann Farrellby Mary Ann Farrell

ACTIVITY LEVEL

High Activity

Low Activity

Biological Rhythms

Regularity

Irregularity

APPROACH/WITHDRAWAL

APPROACH

WITHDRAWAL

ADAPTABILITYHIGH

ADAPTABILITY

LOW ADAPTABILITY

QUALITY OF MOOD

POSITIVE MOOD

NEGATIVE MOOD

INTENSITY OF REACTION

LOW INTENSITY

HIGH INTENSITY

SENSATIVITY THRESHOLD

LOW THRESHOLD

HIGH THRESHOLD

DISTRACTABILITY

HIGH DISTRACTABILITY

LOW DISTRACTABILITY

PERSISTENCE AND ATTENTION SPAN

HIGH PERSISTENCE

LOW PERSISTENCE

“Being alert to temperamental differences and understanding how they require different caregiving approaches are crucial to nurturing children’s healthy emotional growth.”

Dr. Stella Chase

THREE TEMPERAMENT TYPES

1. The Easy or Flexible Child(about 40% of most groups of children)

2. The Difficult or Feisty Child(about 10% of children)

3. The Slow-to-Warm-Up or Fearful Child

(about 15% of children)