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Temperament is often confused with personality and behavior. While it is related to these two important parts of our character, temperament actually exists in infants before personality even develops, and it helps explain certain parts of behavior. Temperament refers to the how of behavior—how children react they way they do, and how children go about doing the things they do. Temperament is the set of inherent traits unique in each person that exist at birth. This is why siblings who are raised in the same environment can have such distinct personalities. One child might have a very regular sleeping and eating pattern, complain little, and be shy around strangers, while the other child—raised in almost the same way—may be fussier, have a less regular schedule, and enjoy being lost in a crowd. Temperament is the springboard to personality, and it helps explain why some behaviors, like temper tantrums, picky eating habits, and separation anxieties, are more apparent in some children.

The debate continues over whether nature (genes, DNA) or nurturing (environment, parenting style) plays a larger role in your child’s character development. Currently, research shows that both play a significant role in shaping your child. While it is true that a child’s temperament exists at birth, the environment in which the child grows up molds that temperament accordingly. Some aspects will become more apparent than others, and certain traits will be channeled in different directions. Understanding your child’s temperament helps you learn how to react and treat your children when their actions and reactions are different than expected and sometimes more challenging than anticipated. In understanding why your child behaves a certain way, you can create a stronger, more fitting relationship between you as a parent, and your child as a growing, changing, unique person.