Sensory Threshold: Is the child bothered by too much noise, changes in temperature, different tastes, the feel of clothing?
Not Sensitive 1...2...3...4...5 Very Sensitive
This is the picky child. She becomes focused on her discomfort, sometimes to the extent that she is unable to perform adequately in school. She may complain to the teacher, ask to go to the nurse or home, have headaches or stomaches. She's a whiner and may have social difficulties as a result. You can't change her sensory threshold. You can only help her adapt. Cut the tags out of her clothing if they bother her. Buy fabrics that are soft, not scratchy or stiff. Request that she be placed in a "structured" classroom, i.e. a quiet one. Let her take her lunch to school. At home, try to maintain a soothing atmosphere. Don't have the TV blaring all the time, instead play some soft music. Dim the lights a bit in the evening and have a quiet time. Avoid overstimulation of this child, and you will reduce the incidences of whining, tantrums, even illness.
Mood: Is the child basically positive or negative in her reactions?
Positive...2...3...4...5 Negative
The negative child will not be easily accepted by teachers and other children. They tend to whine and complain and are generally unpleasant to be around. You can't change her personality and you can't talk her into being happy, so don't try. Just accept and love her as she is. Expect that she will appear unhappy often, and remember that it's not because of something you or someone else did. It's just her temperament! Focus on her other positive qualities and help her learn to recognize the good in a situation. Your first question at the dinner table might be "Tell me something good that happened today". Another good strategy is to talk about the things you are thankful for in your life and encourage her to recognize and acknowledge the things that make her happy. You may want to warn the teacher that your child has a negative temperament so that she won't spend time trying to figure out what's wrong with her. Most competent teachers will have some good tricks up their sleeve for dealing with your negative child.
- Parenting Your Negative Child
- Management Techniques for Difficult Traits - Negative Mood (Elaine Gibson)
- Seven Steps in Coping with a Negative Child (Elaine Gibson)
More Temperament Styles