As a parent you will know that every child is unique. They all have individual personality traits and habits that make them different to other children. But how do you describe your child’s personality and the things that make your child special?
There are lots of words to choose from to describe your child’s personality and it is very important that you choose the right ones. Using negative language to describe your child can be very damaging to their confidence.
It is also important that, as a parent, you can begin to understand your child and recognise their personality type.
This is a useful guide on how to describe your child’s personality. Keep reading to find out more.
How To Describe Your Child’s Personality?
Before you can describe your child’s personality, you need to know how to identify the traits that make them who they are and differentiate them from other children. Here are some of the things to take notice of:
Whether they are good at maintaining concentration or are easily distracted
How loud and intense they are
How predictable their behavior and routines are
How sensitive they are to stimuli
How do they approach new things- are they curious and confident or do they withdraw?
How easily they adapt to change
How stubborn and persistent they are
Is their mood generally positive or negative?
By observing and noticing these traits, you should be able to get a better understanding of your child’s personality.
Toddler personalities are often categorized into three types – easygoing and happy (active, focused, confident, mild intensity and emotional displays, copes well with change), shy and thoughtful (quiet, likes routine, anxious around new things, good focus, sensitive to stimuli), and spirited and wild (active, passionate, mood swings, stubborn, unpredictable, easily distracted).
It is not always this straightforward and some children are a combination of different personality types, but it can be a helpful way to begin to understand your child and your child’s personality.
Why Is Positive Language So Important To Describe Your Child’s Personality?
The language we use has a big impact on how we think and our perspective- both consciously and subconsciously. If we attribute negative words to describe our child’s personality then we are more likely to view their behavior as negative which can have an affect on how we react.
It is also important to avoid holding toddlers and young children to the same standards that we hold adults to. If an adult shouts or throws something then they should know better, if a young child does it they are still learning and need to be taught the right way to behave.
Using positive language also encourages parents to think more carefully about their children, how they act, and why they behave this way. This puts them in the best possible situation to help, support, and teach their children.
For example, you could say that your child is in the ‘terrible twos’ and is having tantrums. Alternatively, you could say that they are struggling to articulate their feelings and they are experimenting with practicing independence.
The second option immediately puts you in a more understanding, empathetic frame of mind which makes you better able to support your child. Describing your child’s personality in this positive way creates a positive scenario for all.
It can be a very useful exercise for parents to take some time to sit down and write a paragraph on how they would describe their child. By putting the effort into finding positive words and phrases you will be more capable of seeing things from your child’s perspective.
This is a particularly good exercise if you are struggling with your child’s challenging behavior or they are not responding well to your discipline.
So, what words can you use to describe your child’s personality? Here are some examples.
Adventurous
Is your child always running off at inconvenient times? Perhaps they speed off down the aisle at the grocery store, or they want to run ahead when you are walking down the street. They might struggle to stay within a designated area when playing outside.
You call them ‘troublesome’ or ‘defiant’, but actually your child probably has a good sense of adventure. They are curious about the world and want to learn more. They want to have new experiences and explore.
A more positive way to describe your child’s personality would be to call them adventurous. By providing lots of opportunities for safe adventures- nature walks, making a den, visiting new places – you can reduce their need to seek adventure at inappropriate times.
Confident
Does your child try to tell you what to do? Do they get annoyed when you try to do things for them and demand to do it themselves? Perhaps they regularly approach new people and strike up a conversation or tell them to sit down or to play with a particular toy.
It is easy to label these children as ‘bossy’ or ‘difficult’, but what you are actually dealing with is a very confident child.
Having natural confidence is a wonderful personality trait for your child that should be encouraged, but you will need to help your child by teaching them social skills so they can use their confidence in the right way.
Teach them to say please and thank you, to not interrupt, and to ask people nicely to do things.
Enthusiastic/Dynamic
If your child gets over excited easily they probably have moments when they run around making a lot of loud noise, perhaps shouting or squealing. These children often get labeled as ‘disruptive’ or ‘naughty’, but in reality they are just very reactive to stimuli.
They are also likely to be the kind of children who find joy in the smaller, more simple things and are easily pleased. These personality traits are important- it will help them to enjoy life as they grow up and to make the best out of every situation.
They will likely be gregarious characters who bring fun to the lives of their family and friends. A more positive way to describe your child’s personality would be \as enthusiastic and dynamic.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we have looked at how to describe your child’s personality in a positive way whatever their personality traits are.
We have covered what can affect your child’s personality, what factors need to be considered to define them, and why it is important to use positive language to describe your child’s personality.
It is also important to note that a child’s personality should not be seen as a negative no matter how challenging it may be. We are all unique and that’s what makes the world special.
My name is Joyce Bailey, and I am a mother of two wonderful children. When I had my first child five years ago, at first I struggled to know which method of parenting I wanted to adopt. Traditional parenting just did not seem right for my family.
