Week 3:
Temperament No one impacts who your child is becoming more than you do.
Kathleen Edelman
Know Your Temperament:
ADDITIONAL TEMPERAMENT RESOURCE• Personality Plus for Parents by Florence Littauer
ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINE RESOURCES• Parenting by The Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child by John Rosemond
• Boundaries with Kids by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
• Loving Your Child Too Much by Tim Clinton and Gary Sibcy
• Parenting Your Powerful Child: Bringing an End to the Everyday Battles by Dr. Kevin Leman
APPLICATION EXERCISE THE TEMPERAMENT TESTDISCOVER THE TEMPERAMENTS OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERSOver the next week, please take a few moments to complete the assessment below as a first step toward discovering the temperaments of your family members. Use the chart on the following page to write the temperament of each person.
STEP 1: Circle the word in each row that best describes a family member.
Column A Column B Column C Column D
1 TAKES CHANCES LIKES TO LEAD LOYAL HIGH IDEALS
2 RATIONAL FUN-LOVING DARING BALANCED
3 NON-DEMANDING DEEP/THOUGHTFUL IMAGINATIVE SINGLE-MINDED
4 PRODUCTIVE UNDERSTANDING DETAILED LIKES VARIETY
5 UNFLUSTERED RESERVED MOTIVATOR AUTHORITATIVE
6 LOGICAL ENJOYS NEW THINGS DECISION MAKER MEDIATOR
7 ENERGETIC OPINIONATED AVOIDS CONFLICT PREDICTABLE
8 CONSCIENTIOUS EXPRESSIVE LEADER NURTURING
9 PATIENT PRACTICAL FORGIVING ADVENTUROUS
10 GOAL-DRIVEN PATIENT FAITHFUL LOVES PEOPLE
11 DISLIKES CHANGE TIDY PROMOTER COMPETITIVE
12 PERSISTENT PLAYFUL INDEPENDENT TOLERANT
13 TALKATIVE ENJOYS CHALLENGES DEEP RELATIONSHIPS SENSITIVE
14 CREATIVE POSITIVE BRAVE GOOD LISTENER
15 ACCEPTING EVALUATES ENTHUSIASTIC IMPULSIVE
16 DOER EASYGOING LIKES ORDER OPEN/FRIENDLY
17 STEADY CAUTIOUS ENERGETIC ACHIEVER
18 PERFECTIONIST ANIMATED VISIONARY WILLING
This test is based on Personality Patch Training by Teresa Gilbert: pathwaystoexcellence.net. All rights reserved.
(Name of Child)
Temperament Color(Name of Child)
Temperament Color
(Name of Child)
Temperament Color
(Name of Child)
Temperament Color
(Name of Child)
Temperament Color
DadTemperament Color
MomTemperament Color
FAMILY TEMPERAMENT CHART
STEP 2: Count the number of words you circled for each color, and record it below.
TOTALS: Red __________ Yellow __________ Green __________ Blue __________
TEMPERAMENT PROFILES
PLAYFUL YELLOWFUN-LOVING
OUTGOINGOPTIMISTIC
LIFE OF THE PARTY
“I’m the quintessential people person. I enjoy being the center of attention
and am energized by being with people. I’m bold and loud in
almost everything I do.”
PEACEFUL GREENRELAXEDLIKEABLE
PEACEABLELOW-STRESSED
“I’m laid back and go with the flow most of the time. I can be different
things to different people and respond as needed in different situations.”
PROPER BLUEORGANIZED
DETAIL-ORIENTEDDEEP THINKER
“I tend to be a quiet person, and I am energized by time alone. I like
things functional and efficient, and I appreciate things like agendas,
detailed instructions, and strong follow-through.”
POWERFUL REDBORN LEADER
“GET THINGS DONE” PERSONVISIONARY
DECISION MAKER
“I’m a strong leader. I am very task-oriented and often find myself doing
multiple tasks at one time. If I am not in charge, I want to be.”
Sanguine
Phlegmatic
Choleric
Melancholy
The temperament information on pages 22-26 is based on the information found in the book, Personality Plus, by Florence Littauer. Adaptations have been made by Kathleen Edelman to keep current with new research concerning temperament behaviors.
STRENGTHSPEOPLE PERSON
HUMORCREATIVE AND COLORFUL
GREAT STORYTELLER
WEAKNESSESDECIDES BY FEELING
TALKS TOO MUCHDISTRACTED EASILY
INTERRUPTS
STRENGTHSADAPTABLE
COMPETENT AND STEADYGOOD LISTENER
KIND
WEAKNESSESTOO QUIET
PROCRASTINATORSTUBBORN
AVOIDS CONFLICT
STRENGTHSATTENTION TO DETAIL
DEEP AND THOUGHTFULGREAT AT PROCESSES AND
SYSTEMSPERSISTENT AND THOROUGH
WEAKNESSESLACKS SPONTANEITY
STRUGGLES UNDER PRESSUREHARD TO PLEASEREMEMBERS THE
NEGATIVES
STRENGTHSDECISIVE
WORKS WELL UNDER PRESSUREPRODUCTION-ORIENTED
GREAT LEADER
WEAKNESSESTOO OPINIONATED
WORKAHOLICOVERLY INTENSE
INSENSITIVE
TEMPERAMENT STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Sanguine
Phlegmatic
Choleric
Melancholy
BASIC DESIRE: HAVE FUNEMOTIONAL NEEDS:
AttentionAffectionApproval
Acceptance
CONTROLS BY: CHARM
BASIC DESIRE: HAVE PEACEEMOTIONAL NEEDS:Peace and QuietFeeling of Worth
Lack of StressRespect
CONTROLS BY: PROCRASTINATION
BASIC DESIRE: HAVE CONTROLEMOTIONAL NEEDS:
LoyaltySense of Control
AppreciationCredit for Work
CONTROLS BY: ANGER
BASIC DESIRE: HAVE PERFECTIONEMOTIONAL NEEDS:
SensitivitySupport
SpaceSilence
CONTROLS BY: MOODS
PLAYWitty • Easygoing • Not Goal Oriented
WORKDecisive • Organized • Goal Oriented
ANAL
YZE
Intr
over
ted
• Pes
sim
istic
• So
ft-S
poke
nLE
ADE
xtro
vert
ed •
Opt
imis
tic •
Out
spok
en
Popular Sanguine Powerful Choleric
Peaceful Phlegmatic Perfect melancholy
THE TEMPERAMENTS
KidsPlayful Yellow
STRENGTHSENJOYS LIFEACCEPTING
SOCIALLOVES HUGSINQUISITIVE
WEAKNESSESSASSY
DEFIANT OF AUTHORITYSELFISH
IRRESPONSIBLETEASER
Kidspeaceful green
STRENGTHSPEACEMAKERSUNDEMANDING
ACCOMMODATINGCOMFORTABLE ALONE
NO DRAMA
WEAKNESSESRESENTS PRESSURE
NON VERBALUNCOMFORTABLE SOCIALLY
INDIFFERENTINCOMPLETE TASKS
Kidspowerful Red
STRENGTHSLEADERSHIP
RESPONSIBILITYCONFIDENCE
ACTION-ORIENTEDMOTIVATED
WEAKNESSESBOSSY
DEMANDINGARGUMENTATIVE
SELFISHAGGRESSIVE
Kidsproper blue
STRENGTHSCOMPASSION
SINCERITYLOYALTY
DEPENDABILITYWELL BEHAVED
EASILY DISCIPLINED
WEAKNESSESEASILY FRUSTRATED
SENSITIVEMOODY AND EMOTIONAL
CRITICALPOUTY
DISCOVERING YOUR CHILD’S TEMPERAMENT
Sanguine
Phlegmatic
Choleric
Melancholy
Playful YellowWHAT TO DOBE POSITIVE
ADORE AND PRAISE THEMPROMOTE CREATIVITY
ALLOW VERBAL EXPRESSION
WHAT NOT TO DODON’T BE TOO SERIOUS
DON’T DEMAND PERFECTIONDON’T CONSUME THEIR TIME
peaceful greenWHAT TO DO
BE KIND IN CRITICISMLISTEN QUIETLY
PROMOTE INVOLVEMENTACCEPT INDIVIDUALITY
WHAT NOT TO DODON’T BE INSENSITIVE
DON’T EXPECT INTERACTIONDON’T DEMAND CONFORMITY
powerful RedWHAT TO DO
SPEAK LOGICALLYBE DIRECT
PROMOTE INTELLIGENCELET THEM MAKE CHOICES
WHAT NOT TO DODON’T LECTURELIMIT EMOTION
BE AUTHORITATIVENEVER EMBARRASS
proper blueWHAT TO DO
BE SENSITIVEHELP THEM FEEL SECURE
BE SINCEREPROMOTE CREATIVITY
WHAT NOT TO DODON’T EXPECT SPONTANEITYDON’T DEMAND PERFECTION
DON’T MAKE THEM FEEL GUILTY
PARENTING DO’S AND DON’TS
Sanguine
Phlegmatic
Choleric
Melancholy