Identifying Traits to adopt styles of care for children
Why is this important? When teachers can identify traits of a child they can tailor their
care and teaching
strategy. When teachers adapt their approach of care:
The child feels seen, valued and understood
Learning becomes more effective and fun
It expands the emotional resilience and confidence of the child
Key traits that determine a childs personality include:
Activity level (how active the child is)
Distractibility (degree of concentration)
Intensity (how loud the child is)
Regularity (predictability of biological functions, such as appetite, sleep)
Sensory threshold (sensitivity to physical stimuli)
Approach or withdrawal (response to a new situation or strangers)
Adaptability (how easily the child adapts to changes)
Persistence (stubbornness)
Mood (positive or negative)
For an easygoing or happy child
Reinforce positive behavior
Keep expectations realistic
Never overlook the needs and feelings of the child
Join in play
Initiate conversations
For a shy or thoughtful child
Take it slow and dont rush them into new situations
Treat them with patience while introducing new people
Mix new food tastes with familiar ones
Prepare them for changes
Give them time to adapt at their own pace
For a high sprited child
Keep them active
Give them more outdoor play
Involve them in group activities
Anticipate blowups and steer them away from difficult situations
Insist on naptime, since an overtired child is harder to manage
Provide them with healthy ways to express their feelings