A one-year-old can’t reach the cereal box from the shopping cart because she is buckled in and has a meltdown. A two-year-old screams and pitches a fit because he wants to sit in the big boy car seat that his brother sits in. A three-year-old wants to pick up all his toys in one swoop and gets upset when one toy falls out of his grip. While parents may see scenarios like these daily, it can be hard to understand why these behaviors occur during early childhood development. This is called temperament, the biological emotional reactivity with behaviors.
Temperament’s characteristics include several aspects, such as emotional intensity, activity level, frustration tolerance, reaction to new people and reaction to change. Emotional intensity is the strength of your child’s emotional responses whereas activity level is physical energy. Frustration tolerance is how they cope when frustrated and how easily that frustration occurs. Changes, transitions, and new people can contribute to intensity of reactions, especially if it is unfamiliar or novel.
Parents worry that these behaviors are something that their child has chosen or that the parent themselves have caused it through their parenting style. It is natural to find some temperament behaviors easier to guide and regulate than others, as there is no right or wrong temperament. Adapting your parenting style with resilience and compassion goes a long way. Your role is to help your child develop healthy adaptive coping strategies to navigate this biological emotional reaction.
Temperament and personality are distinct, yet there is a correlation. Temperament is innate and hereditary whereas personality is developed through social interactions, learning and experiences. In other words, through experience, a child with a socially avoidant temperament can adapt and be more confident in novel situations and around new people.
Temperament forms the way we experience the world and in relating to and connecting with others. Healthy adaptive coping skills are essential for a healthy future, and our integrated behavioral health services ensure your child receives comprehensive, compassionate support. Call (877) 800-5722 to schedule an appointment with a Lone Star Circle of Care Behavioral Health provider.
Blog post written by Audrey Rodrigues, LCSW
Lone Star Circle of Care at Cedar Park
