Adapting to Your Child’s Personality
Living with a child between 1 and 3 years old is always challenging, and it can be even more difficult if your child's personality and your own don't seem to be an ideal fit. Join host Dr. Winnie King, two moms and toddlers (with different personalities!) and a child behavioral specialist to find out how to modify your own responses so that you can more effectively influence your child.
Guests:
Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok, MSW, PhD - Founding Director of The Institute for Infants, Children and Families, Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services; Board Member, Zero-to-Three: The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families.
Stacey Deering - Mother of Cassidy
Cassidy Deering - 2 ½ years old
Lisa Riebe - Mother of Jack
Jack Riebe - 2 ½ years old
Tips:
Goodness of Fit
- Know your child's temperament and know your own.
- Observe yourself and your child carefully.
- Know your child's state at any given time.
- Remember, there are always mismatches. What's key is how you respond.
Remember, there are always “mismatches” between a parent’s and child’s personalities.
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But those differences are not always bad. What’s key is how you respond!
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So get to know and really understand the differences between your temperaments.
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Remember that as the parent – and the more mature party – it’s easier for you to adapt to those differences.
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Do that by responding to your child’s own needs and temperament, not to some arbitrary set of rules or expectations.
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Finally, be willing to negotiate with your child, and remember, each time that you do, you’ll be teaching the child how to negotiate too!
