Temperament Matters

The compatibility of a person’s temperament with his surrounding environment is referred to as “goodness of fit.”

Some temperaments and environments seem to naturally fit together, while others do not.

There are two types of “Goodness of Fit:”

how that trait interacts with the environment
how it interacts with the people in that environment.

Any trait in and of itself is not a problem; rather, it is the interaction that determines the “acceptability” of that trait.

Fit with Environment

When there is a match between the demands and expectations of the environment and the child’s temperament and abilities, that is a good fit. This makes success and high self-esteem more likely. When there is not a good fit, there is a greater risk for difficulties for the child.

For example:

Picture a highly irregular child who is hungry at different times each day attending a school where lunches are served promptly at noon everyday. The parent may become frustrated when the child brings his lunch home uneaten or upset if the teacher calls because the child is crying because she is famished by 10 am.

Or a very active child who lives in a small apartment may have greater difficulty getting out all of his energy than a similar child who lives on a farm. This can make things harder for the child and the parent. Similarly, a very active child in a very traditional and more restrictive school setting might run into trouble abiding by the rules of conduct.

Fit with People

Goodness of fit also describes how well the child’s temperament “fits” with the people in his environment and how likable the people in the environment consider the child to be.

Remember that all adults have their own unique temperaments that can sometimes be very different from the child’s. This is true of parents, teachers, caregivers, etc. Sometimes this clash in temperaments can be the reason why a parent or another adult may be struggling with a child.

It may be harder to understand a child with a very different temperament from you.

you may have less patience to deal with a temperament you don’t understand

Some parents find it difficult to accept traits that they recognize in themselves that they do not like or that have caused them trouble in their own lives.

For example:

if a very active parent has a child who does not enjoy physical activity, this can create potential conflict in the home if it feels to the parent that he is begging his child just to go for a bike ride.

Or, if a parent who is very social and enjoys parties and gatherings has a child who has a really tough time entering a group of people and is very shy or slow to warm, this parent may become frustrated and angry with the child for not being more friendly and outgoing.

Knowing about “Goodness of Fit”

Understanding the concept of goodness of fit can help you:

decide if changes may be needed so that there is a better match between the child and his environment.
approach a situation with more empathy.
help your children understand and manage their reactions to certain things.
have more realistic expectations about your children. Sometimes just knowing you have a child who is more challenging temperamentally can help you to understand that it is not your fault, you did not make this child the way he is, and it is not the result of “bad” parenting.
select situations or activities that “fit” for them so that they can feel more successful.

For example:

You can provide opportunities for very active children to join sports teams and for less active ones to find clubs that require less activity and movement, like a chess club or a computer club.

When it comes to assigning chores, you can try to match chores with what fits for your children. Active children can mow the lawn, take out the trash, vacuum the living room. Less active children can fold the laundry or empty the dishwasher.

Benefits of creating a “Goodness of Fit”

You can avoid some of the recurring battles that take place within your home.
You build a more trusting, respectful relationship with your children.
Your children’s self-esteem is raised.

Tips for creating a “Goodness of Fit”

Know your children’s temperament.
Understand their usual way of reacting in situations.
Know your temperament.
Understand your typical ways of responding to your children.
Assess how well situations and environments fit your child’s temperament.
Change schedules and physical surroundings to better fit your child’s temperament.

For example, if you have a child that is highly active, plan a trip to the playground where the child can run and climb before you head out to the store to go shopping.
Identify how your temperaments fit and don’t fit together.
Do you tend to react mildly to things while your child has intense reactions? Are you both highly sensitive to sounds and tastes? Do you adapt quickly while your child has a tough time adapting to new routines?
Consider how your reactions to your children affect their behavior.
What is your response when your children’s temperament clashes with your expectations? How do your reactions impact the outcome of your interactions?
Work to respond more sensitively and effectively to your children.
Be aware of the language you use and learn to describe and re-frame some of the negative labels with positive labels.
Anticipate your child’s needs and reactions.
Work together to plan for successful outcomes.

For example, if your child is low on adaptability and slow to approach new situations, prepare him in advance for new situations by being as specific and detailed as you can about what he can expect.
Help your children learn ways they can help themselves “fit” better in all environments.
Teach your children about their temperament and about goodness of fit. Teach them what they can do to manage both.
Take into account your child’s temperament.
Help him feel comfortable in a particular setting to create a winning situation.

For example:

If a child typically gets stressed in crowded places, visits to stores can be made during their slowest hours.

Do not force a child who has difficulty talking to strangers to talk to new people or relatives they haven’t seen in a while. Give them time to feel comfortable – this is being respectful of the child’s temperament and can avoid a meltdown or the child feeling badly about himself.

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For more information about Goodness of Fit, check out the following books. Purchasing from Amazon.com through our website supports the work we do to help parents do the best job they can to raise their children.

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