All children develop according to an individual program and are only partially similar to each other. One grows calm and assiduous, the other grows fidgety, the third is the one that is spoken of as the "soul of the company," and the fourth feels comfortable alone. Even twins are distinguished by their behavior, which depends on the temperament of the children. What is this concept? What types of temperament are there, are they amenable to change, and how do you learn to manage them? Answers to these and other questions will be presented in the next article.
What is temperament?
Each person has an innate feature that under no circumstances lends itself to change. This is temperament. It determines the behavior of a person, his emotional state, mental processes. Temperament does not affect a person’s mental abilities, but it manifests itself in motility, physical activity, and emotionality. This is a broader concept than character.
The temperament of children is not affected by the social conditions in which the child is brought up. It is inherent in a person from birth. And if the character under the influence of environmental conditions can radically change, then this will never happen with temperament. Over time, parents can teach their child how to manage it. But for this, in the process of education, it is necessary to take into account the type of temperament. Properly selected methods will allow you to grow a mentally balanced, healthy and happy child.
Types of Temperament
The pace and rhythm of activity, behavior, speech, sociability, facial expressions - all these features have been identified since the birth of the baby. Knowing what type of temperament is inherent in the baby allows parents to take a more balanced approach to the process of education and training. And you can often determine it already in the first year of a child’s life.
In psychology, 4 types of temperament of children are distinguished:
- Choleric.
- Sanguine.
- Phlegmatic person.
- Melancholic.
Children who have a specific type of temperament are quite rare. Typically, a child exhibits traits of one type or another to varying degrees. And only one of them is dominant or leading. There are a number of tests to determine the type of temperament. It is advisable to conduct them in relation to preschoolers over 6 years old, who can clearly articulate the answer to the question.
Characteristic of temperaments
It is possible to determine what kind of psychoemotional type a child belongs in pre-school age. And the observation and attentiveness of parents will help in this. You can give the following characteristics of the types of temperaments in children:
- Choleric. This type includes easily excitable, restless, even aggressive children. They are emotional, energetic, subject to a sharp change in mood. It is difficult to predict how such a child will behave in a new environment for him.
- Sanguine. A child with this type of temperament can be seen from afar. He is sociable, restrained, balanced, smiling. This is a real “sun” - a cheerful, curious, active creature, almost always in a good mood.
- Phlegmatic person. This child is restrained, diligent, thoughtful, but taciturn. The phlegmatic is peacefully disposed, trying to avoid conflict situations and not violate his usual daily routine.
- Melancholic. A child with this type of temperament is uncommunicative, withdrawn and gloomy. He is not confident in his own abilities and needs help when he needs to make the right choice.
For each individually apply their own methods of education. Let us dwell on them in more detail.
Sanguine: features of the temperament of the child
This lively, cheerful, sociable and energetic baby has a strong and balanced nervous system. The sanguine child is businesslike, attentive, always in a good mood and quickly makes new friends. Any business is taken with enthusiasm, but if you just lose interest in him, the baby immediately throws it and switches to another. A sanguine child easily adapts to new conditions for him, finds a common language with unfamiliar people. He is emotional, but experiences all failures quite easily.
In the process of raising a sanguine, it is necessary to take into account all the features of the character and temperament of the child:
- It is necessary to help the baby learn the following rule - the work that has been started should be completed. For this, before starting work, it is necessary to set a clear goal for the child, and in the end it is imperative to demonstrate the results of his work.
- Approaching a sanguine should only be with a warm attitude. Otherwise, it closes. A sanguine child definitely needs support and approval.
- Formation of stable relations with comrades. Little sanguine is rather frivolous about new acquaintances. As a result, he has many friends, but no real friends. The task of parents is to instill in the child the constancy and stability of his interests.
Raising a choleric child
The nervous system of this baby is strong, but unbalanced. In choleric processes of excitation prevail over inhibition. It is difficult for such a child to control his emotions. His good mood and unbridled fun in one second is replaced by loud sobs. Choleric easily makes new friends. He instantly adapts to the team, but can also quickly provoke an opponent into conflict.
As for the upbringing of a preschool child with choleric temperament, parents need to pay special attention to the following points:
- It is important to maintain hobbies related to motor activity. His indefatigable energy should be directed in the “right direction”.
- Talking with a choleric child should be in an even tone, calmly, but demanding. There should be no persuasion. The child must learn that you need to communicate without screaming and rudeness, and you should apologize for your actions.
- Strictly observe the daily routine.
- Limit everything that leads to the excitation of the baby’s nervous system.
- Helping your child survive his failures. Otherwise, his excessive emotionality can lead to a breakdown.
Individual approach to a phlegmatic child
This baby is called "convenient" since childhood. He cries a little and quietly, sleeps a lot, does not require increased attention to himself. His strong and balanced nervous system is as if inactive. The phlegmatic child loves constancy. He slowly adapts to the new environment. The kid needs time to get used to, adapt, perform. This is a child with reduced activity, a little lethargic and withdrawn. He never happens and does not strive to be the first.
Features of the temperament of a phlegmatic child require a certain approach in education:
- No need to rush and customize the baby. This can lead to the fact that he will begin to get lost and stop responding to any comments of adults or become locked in himself even more.
- Phlegmatic should be introduced to outdoor team games, where you can learn how to overcome difficulties and win.
- It is important to show the child the results of his activities, but not to stop monitoring him at every stage of the work.
- Treat phlegmatic calmly and respect his inner peace.
Temperament Type - Melancholic
The main character traits of such a child are isolation and indecision. Children with a temperament melancholy have a high emotional sensitivity, tearfulness, shyness. In a favorable environment for them, they are shy and sweet. Also, they never show their emotions in public, but it’s quite difficult to bear grief, resentment and failure.
Melancholy - slow children who get tired quickly. They are tired of outdoor games, noisy peers and remarks. They hate kindergarten and school. It’s hard for them to adapt in the team.
When raising a child with this type of temperament, the following should be considered:
- No need to put pressure on the melancholic and push him forward when doing any work. Such a child needs more time to recover. He takes possession of any skills for a long time, but then firmly and forever.
- Self-esteem of melancholic people must be constantly raised and maintained at a high level. They need parental praise and approval.
- Orders and categorical prohibitions against melancholy children are contraindicated. They perceive discussions much better, and with mandatory accents on the positive aspects of the issue.
A simple test to determine the temperament of children
In one child, there may be traits of both a sanguine and choleric. Very rarely you can meet a person who has only one type of temperament. It is important to pay enough attention to your kids in order to develop the right strategy for their education.
The following test will help you determine your child’s temperament. Of the four answer options attached to each question, you need to choose only one:
1. What games does the child prefer:
- a) quiet, calm, mostly alone;
- b) quiet, but quickly tired of them;
- c) noisy and mobile;
- d) noisy and always with the audience.
2. How does the child react to criticism of adults:
- a) silently, agrees with his guilt;
- b) offended and crying;
- c) promises not to do so anymore, but immediately forgets the word given to him;
- d) with indignation and screaming.
3. How a child communicates with peers:
- a) speaks distinctly, calmly, without emotion;
- b) prefers to be silent;
- c) clearly, distinctly, listens to what he is told;
- d) loudly, quickly, excitedly, completely not listening to others.
4. How the child makes decisions:
- a) calmly, calmly;
- b) difficult, indecisive;
- c) quickly and correctly;
- d) proactive, but his excitement is quickly dying away.
5. What place does the child occupy in the team and in society:
- a) a long look, interest is not immediately;
- b) constrained and indecisive;
- c) easily adaptable, shows interest in everything;
- d) quickly excited and nervous.
Test results: if the answers “a” prevail, the child belongs to the phlegmatic type of temperament, if the letters “b” are more than melancholic, “c” is sanguine, and “g” is choleric.
Classification of Infant Temperament
The famous British psychologist Penelope Leach identifies the following types of temperament in children from birth to 1 year:
- "Unfortunate." Toddlers who are of this type are often naughty and annoyed for any reason. The baby for a long time and stubbornly does not want to fall asleep, is nervous about it, and even breastfeeding cannot calm him down. As a rule, such children grow poorly and gain weight. Frequent awakenings for them are a variant of the norm.
- "Nervous." Such children react very sharply to a loud voice, new sounds, and surroundings. Even the light turned on in the dark can cause fright in them. When such a child is hungry, he screams very loudly and nothing can calm him at least temporarily.
- Sony. This is a phlegmatic child. He calmly tolerates hunger and wet diapers, rarely is something dissatisfied.
- "Bouncers." These children prefer to study the environment instead of sleeping. As a rule, they develop before peers.
Hobbies of children
For the development of nature’s inherent abilities that every child certainly has, it is necessary to find the “right” occupations for the baby that reveal its potential. Different hobbies and sports sections are suitable for children of different temperaments:
- Choleric. Such a child is recommended to engage in outdoor sports, where he can realize his leadership skills. Football, hockey, basketball are what the choleric needs. To control the inhibitory processes, drawing and designing classes with adults are recommended.
- Phlegmatic person. A child with this type of temperament is suitable for drawing, chess, music, where he can develop his creative abilities. He may be interested in sports that do not require a quick reaction.
- Sanguine. Such children need outdoor games, but in sports they will not particularly strive for a better result. The learning process itself is important for them, so in this case it is important to find a good and friendly coach.
- Melancholic. Such a child is difficult to join in collective games. But classes alone can lead to the fact that he will become even more closed. It is important to help the child overcome himself in order to later have fun on a par with everyone.
Recommendations for parents
It is important to remember that there are no “good” or “bad” temperaments. Both sanguine and phlegmatic, melancholic or choleric have their positive and negative sides. Parents cannot change what is inherent in nature. The temperament of a school-age child does not depend on how well he was brought up at home or in kindergarten. It is given to children from birth. But the task of parents is to highlight and emphasize the strengths of temperament and “smooth out” the weaknesses.