Understanding the Impact of Parenting

Styles and Temperament

Sandi Cimino Family Support Specialist

Child Crisis Center Family Resource Center

What is a Parenting Style? Psychologist Diana Baumrind

• work in late 1940’s through 1960’s

• 4 dimensions of parenting that led to development of parenting styles – Parental control

– Maturity demands

– Clarity of communication

– Nurturance

• A set of strategies used to raise children

• Fluid, changeable

• Characterized by levels of responsiveness & demandingness

• Influenced by many factors

What is a Parenting Style?

Characteristics of Parenting Styles

Outcomes for Children

Why Parenting Styles Differ

Beliefs Actions

Self Care Parental stress

Values Family Culture

Ethnic Culture Ineffective

parenting scripts Substance Use

What is Temperament

• Temperament is neither “good” or “bad.” It just “is.”

• It is a set of inborn traits that remain throughout life.

• Temperament has a great deal to do with how we behave and with how others perceive us.

• “Goodness of fit” is important in parenting

• Three main temperament styles

– Feisty/Spirited/Challenging

– Easy/Flexible

– Cautious/Slow to warm

Temperament Traits Activity Level

Adaptability

Approach/Withdrawal

Distractibility

Intensity

Mood

Persistence/Frustration Tolerance

Regularity/Rhythmicity

Sensitivity

Goodness of Fit • Occurs when there is a balance

among people in the environment and the demands of the environment.

– Temperament

– Parenting Styles

• Based on interactions

• Best indicator of positive child outcomes

Improving Parent-Child Interactions

With all temperament types – Provide structure

– Have predictable routines

– Recognize positive behaviors

– Be consistent in setting limits and enforcing consequences

– Be clear on behavior expectations and consequences

Improving Parent-Child Interactions

• Feisty/Spirited/Challenging – Ignore minor attention-seeking behaviors

– Teach emotional literacy (emotion control/expression)

– Consistency & clarity

– Use “no” sparingly, apply positive redirection

– Reduce stimulation

– Provide reminders

Improving Parent-Child Interactions

• Easy/Flexible – Frequent check in’s

– Structure & daily routines to build sense of security

– Teach emotional literacy (identifying emotions/emotional expression)

– Consistency & clarity

– Opportunities to explore

– Avoid extremes

Improving Parent-Child Interactions

• Quiet/Slow-to-Warm – Recognize child’s cues

– Allow extra time for transitions- Be patient, don’t force

– Reduce stimulation

– Break tasks into smaller steps

– Exhibit empathy

– Structure important to security

– Avoid moving too fast

Improving Parent-Child Interactions

Look through a new lens… Instead of “Feisty”:

Adventurous, Passionate, Explorative, Ready to go go go!!!

Instead of “Slow to warm”: Cautious, Observant, Sensitive, Aware of their surroundings

Instead of “Easy”: Charismatic, Aware of surroundings, Easy to please

Thank you!! Most childhood problems don't result from

"bad" parenting, but are the inevitable result

of the growing that parents and children do

together.

-Fred Rogers