| Trait | Positives | Assessment |
| Activity Level refers to the need for a person to be in motion. | Highly active children can channel their energy into sports, contributing to the household, and keeping up with the many tasks of adulthood. | - Is your child difficult to diaper because she squirms or wiggles?
- Does your child have difficulty sitting still, or can he sit quietly for long periods of time?
- Does your child become irritable if confined too long, or can she sit in a car seat without protest?
|
| Distractibility is the degree to which a child can concentrate and pay attention when he’s not interested in an activity. | It’s easier to divert a highly distractible child from an undesirable behavior. | - Is your baby distracted by what’s going on around her when nursing?
- Is your baby soothed when offered another activity?
- Does your child become side-tracked easily when trying to follow a routine?
|
| Intensity is the strength of a child’s emotional reactions. | Intense people are often very passionate. When they can learn to channel their intensity, they can find much joy and fulfillment. | - Does your child become frustrated easily?
- Does your child experience every emotion deeply and powerfully?
- Does your child become upset quickly?
If yes to some or all these questions, your child’s intensity level may be high. |
| Regularity is the predictability of eating, sleeping, and elimination patterns | Irregular people may be more flexible. As adults, they may better tolerate travel and unusual working hours. | - Does your child want to eat at certain times of the day? Or does she skip meals and eat a lot at some and not so much at others?
- Does your child nap at the same time each day? Or can your child easily delay a nap?
- Does your child wake up at the same time? Or if left to her schedule, would it be different times?
|
| Sensitivity is the degree to which a child reacts to physical stimuli (i.e. sounds, smells, textures, emotions) | A highly sensitive individual may be more attuned to what’s going on around him and to better recognize emotions in adults -- a desirable trait for a mate. | - Is your child very affected by the emotions of others (anger, sadness) [highly sensitive], or does she not seem to notice others’ moods?
- Do sounds startle your child?
- Does the feel of clothing bother your child?
- Does he notice temperature differences?
- Do bright lights bother her?
|
| Approach/Withdrawal is the degree to which a child responds to strangers or new situations | People who hesitate to approach situations often think before they act and may be less impulsive in adolescence. | - Does your child get excited about new situations and people and eagerly approach them?
- Or is your child hesitant and resistant in new situations?
|
| Adaptability is how quickly the child adapts to changes in routines and transitions | A child who adapts more slowly may be less likely to rush into dangerous situations. | - Does your child dislike surprises (slow-to-adapt)? Or enjoy them?
- Does your child have trouble getting going in the morning?
- Does you child have trouble falling to sleep at night?
- Is it hard for your child to switch activities?
|
| Persistence is the length of time a child will focus on an activity when faced with challenges and interruptions | A highly persistent child may be able to accomplish many goals throughout life. | - Will your child keep working on a puzzle when it’s hard? Or will she move to another activity?
- Will your child keep pressing when your answer is ‘no’?
- Does your child react strongly when interrupted?
|
| Mood is whether the child views the world primarily positively or negatively | The more serious child may evaluate and analyze situations more carefully. | - Is your child generally happy?
- Does he focus on the positives?
- Is your child more serious?
|
