understanding personality and temperament

PERSONALITY PERSPECTIVE

What impression are we making on our kids?

“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down

and when you get up.“ Deuteronomy 6:7

Personality PresentationGeneral characteristics of each personalityPersonality comparisonsApplying personalities to parenting

Personalities Perspectives

LION~ My WayChallenge and Control 10%LeaderProblem solverCourageousPassionPerseveresPurposefulMotivated by a visionCompetitiveCrave competition and pressureWeaknesses:Runs people over

WHAT ENGERIZES LIONS?

ACHIEVEMENT

OTTER~ The Fun and Creative WayRecognition and approval 25-30%EncouragingEnthusiasticJoyfulCreativeIdea personLoves adventure and surpriseCraves spontaneityFunWeaknessesInterrupts often and moodyDisorganized, misses details of directions

WHAT ENERGIZES OTTERS?

EXPERIENCES

GOLDEN RETRIEVER~ The Easy WayAppreciation and Security 30-35%CaringLoyalHonestHumbleEasy goingPeace makerServant Crave consistencyWeaknesses:LazyIndecisive

WHAT ENERGIZES RETREIVERS?

SERVICE

BEAVER~ The Right WayQuality answers and Value 20-25%Responsible Very detailedConscientiousObedienceOrganizedAnalyticalDiscerningCrave organization and detailsWeaknesses:CriticalInflexible

WHAT ENERGIZES BEAVERS?

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Personalities Perspectives

Personality Trait - FEARSLion   Greatest Need: Respect and control Being important

Greatest Fear: Loss of control 

Beavers Greatest Need: To be accurate   Greatest Fear: Making mistakes Embarrassment

Otter Greatest Need: Approval To be loved  Greatest Fear: Disapproval Feeling Unloved Golden Retrievers: Greatest Need: Appreciated and Needed

Greatest Fear: Unappreciated and not

needed

LIONS AND OTTERSLion: Great startersTalkersOutgoingGlobal thinkersLove a challengeLeadersCraves changeRisk taker Generates ideas

Otter:Great startersTalkersOutgoingGlobal thinkersLove a challengeLeadersCraves changeRisk taker Generates ideas

LIONS AND BEAVERSLion: Black and white thinkers

Task focusedCriticalControlling 

Beavers:Black and white thinkers

Task FocusedCriticalControlling

OTTERS AND RETRIEVERSOtter: People focusedUnmotivated by tasksDislike conflictTakes the easy routeOptimists

Golden Retrievers: People focused

Unmotivated by tasksDislike conflictTakes the easy routeOptimists 

BEAVERS AND RETRIEVERS Beavers: Great finishersEnjoy clear guidelinesListenersQuiet and reservedFollowersLikes routine

Golden Retrievers: Great finishersEnjoy clear guidelinesListenersQuiet and reservedFollowersLikes routine 

LION - my wayGive choices (What do you want to do today?)Celebrate when they persevere or show

courageGive opportunities for challengeTake time to be one on oneGive them a big picture viewGive leadership jobs within your family Minimize talking; follow through with actionGive clear expectations of consequencesLet them experience consequences for choicesTry to not be bated into conflict or a battle

Teach:Leadership qualitiesHealthy relationships with peersLetting others go first

OTTER – fun and creative wayFoster creativity through creative projects(i.e. cooking, crafts, woodworking)Be spontaneous (i.e. create a scavenger

hunt)Create fun experiencesFoster group activities(i.e. sports, classes, neighborhood

gatherings)Play games as a familyEncourage activity. Let them MOVE!

OTTER – fun and creative wayTeach:OrganizationTime managementSlow downProblem solving and think aheadJoy of hard work

GOLDEN RETREIVER – easy wayGive one on one time (cooking or sewing)Provide safe experiences to take risksGive opportunities to develop friendshipsGive clear expectationsCreate a safe and nurturing environmentUse a soft, gentle voiceReward their acts of serviceServe together as a family in the communityDisplay healthy conflict resolution without

using anger

GOLDEN RETREIVER – easy wayTeach:Value of hard workSharing their ideasGoal settingStanding up for themselvesHealthy ways to help others

BEAVER- right wayProvide structure and predictabilityAsk questionsReward critical thinkingAllow them to join you in tasksHighlight one mistake at a timeProvide toys which exercise their analytical

minds i.e. legos, puzzles, building a model car

BEAVER – right wayTeach:Value of play and funGive opportunities to develop friendshipsShow them how to lovingly share criticismMistakes are avenues for learning

Personality Trait - CLASSROOM

Lion Compliment with a challenge and

vision Loves independent projects Craves competition and pressure Enjoys challenging work Likes to have freedom/ thrives with

choices Fast worker Tends to enjoy Math and Science 

Beavers Compliment specifically Crave organization and details Enjoy clear guidelines Do not like open ended assignments Prefer paper and pen to projects Detailed thinker Slow worker Enjoys worksheets Enjoys Math, Grammar and Science

Otter Compliment publicly Love adventure and surprise Enjoys working in groups Crave spontaneity Thrives on creative projects Enjoy open ended assignments Very fast worker Loves art, writing and social studies 

Golden Retrievers Servant in your classroom Detailed thinker Craves consistency Dislike competition and pressure Dislikes getting in front of class Does not want to be embarrassed Likes to have clear directions to follow Slow worker Enjoys social studies, spelling and

grammar

Personality Trait OverviewLion: Peter, Paul, Joshua Challenge and Control 10% Leader Problem solver Courageous Passion Perseveres Purposeful Motivated by a vision Competitive Crave competition and pressure Weaknesses: Runs people over

Beavers: Noah, Martha, Nehemiah, Jacob Quality answers and Value 20-25% Responsible Very detailed Conscientious Obedience Organized Analytical Discerning Crave organization and details Weaknesses: Critical Inflexible

Otter: David, Barnabas Recognition and approval 25-30% Encouraging Enthusiastic Joyful Creative Idea person Loves adventure and surprise Craves spontaneity Fun Weaknesses Interrupts often and moody Disorganized, misses details of directions

Golden Retrievers: Mary, Moses, John Appreciation and Security 30-35% Caring Loyal Honest Humble Easy going Peace maker Servant Crave consistency Weaknesses: Lazy Indecisive