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Home > Ready for Life > Parents > Temperament > About Temperament > Tips For Working With Strengths Of Expression
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    • Temperament
      • About Temperament
        • Tips for Working With Activity Level
        • Tips For Working With Awareness Of Feelings
        • Tips for Working with Children Who Enjoy Change or Who Enjoy What’s Familiar
        • Tips For Working With Distractibility
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        • Tips For Working With Persistence
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        • Tips For Working With Strengths Of Expression
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Tips For Working With Strengths Of Expression

toddler with fern-leaf crown being gently held by his mother

Tips for Working with a Child Who Is Very Expressive

Friends, Family and Home

  • Encourage her to allow other children to take the lead and make decisions sometimes.
  • Assist siblings in getting to make choices about things as well as the more expressive child.
  • Provide time for him to calm down after disagreements with friends.
  • Help siblings and family understand that she will often be loud and insistent.

Learning, Childcare and School

  • Explain to teachers that he tends to react strongly.
  • Work with teachers to develop consistent ways to handle her feelings and outbursts.
  • Ask teachers to encourage activities that involve pretend play and acting things out.
  • Provide learning activities such as musical instruments that allow expression.

Activities and Television

  • Encourage him in organized sports or activities that teach self-discipline and control.
  • Provide her with games that use dramatic expression such as charades and dramatic play.
  • Talk about how people show their feelings on TV and different ways she could show his.
  • Read books and watch TV shows about leaders and talk about their qualities and what they might have been like as children.

Guidance and Discipline

  • Remind her to stop, think and then act.
  • When he is intense, hold him, rub his back, have him take some deep breaths, allow time alone, or relax.
  • In an intense situation, ask her to focus on the facts, not just how she feels.
  • Be careful not to overreact to a child’s strong emotions. Stay calm!

Tips for Working with a Child Who Is Less Expressive

Friends, Family and Home

  • two shy, Asian pre-schoolers use puppets to tell storiesBe sure that he gets as much attention and recognition as more expressive children.
  • Encourage friendships with others not as expressive so that she is not overshadowed.
  • Make sure that family members listen and reinforce him when he does express himself.
  • Allow special time at dinner for children to express feelings and thoughts.

Learning, Childcare and School

  • Talk to her teacher about the need to recognize and encourage her talents.
  • Ask his teacher to encourage him to express himself.
  • Ask teachers to be sure to spend time with her even when she is quiet.
  • If he is being bullied, ask the teacher for a meeting and work together to help him.

Activities and Television

  • Provide her with activities that are more individualized such as baking, woodworking, reading, and other hobbies.
  • Encourage him to have fun, be silly and laugh!
  • Provide a balance of active and quieter activities.
  • Be sure a baby’s needs are met and a quiet baby isn’t ignored.

Guidance and Discipline

  • Use body language as well as words to communicate ideas, and help her do the same.
  • Practice with him through pretend play how to tell people what he needs.
  • Appreciate her for who she is, and don’t expect her to be assertive all the time.
  • Encourage him to share his feelings and ideas and to let you know if he feels ignored by you or others.

Related Video

  • Feeling Loved

    Children need to establish a loving relationship with a dependable care giver from the time they are infants. This video will show you how.
  • Getting Along

    It's important to teach your child how to get along with others in spite of differences in temperament.
  • Who Is My Child?

    In this video, you will learn about how our temperament traits make us different from one another.
  • What Makes Up a Child’s Temperament?

    Find out about the different aspects of temperament traits.
  • Temperament Traits

    Understand the different traits that make up your child's temperament.
  • Do Your Child’s Temperament and World Fit Together?

    Learn to balance what your child needs from their environment because of their temperament and also what they need to learn to adapt to.

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