Handout C-3: Individual Differences

I. Second possible explanation: Individual differences

Every child is born with unique characteristics including temperament. Temperament influences how the child experiences his environment and how he responds to it. Determining if behaviors are explained by temperament requires working with parents to learn about the child's infancy to find consistent patterns in the child's response to his environment. Other individual differences that will contribute to behavior include any congenital health or developmental conditions, organic deficits, and similar factors.

II. Clues: How can I tell if a child's behavior is explained by temperament or individual differences?

• I have talked with the child's family and have learned that this quality has been consistent since birth.
• I have read about this type of behavior in articles on child temperament and know that it is characteristic of certain temperament types.
• This behavior is not explained by developmental stage alone.
• I have observed this child's temperament style, and this is a consistent quality in his behavior.

III. If a child's behavior is explained by temperament what actions should I take?

• Adapt your expectations and interactions.
• When possible, offer options in the environment that allow for and appreciate children's different ways of expressing themselves and responding to the world.
• If the child's behavior is due to congenital health or developmental conditions, or organic deficits, then the child's ability to change that behavior will be limited. The majority of accommodation will need to come from the environment rather than the child.

IV. Example

· Carson:

Carson got all wet in the playground today and needs to change out of his wet socks. There are no socks in his change of clothes cubby, but his teacher, Lani, has found a nice clean pair in the lost and found box that he can use. Carson won't put those socks on and is throwing a huge tantrum. Lani knows that he can be fussy about his clothes, but this is ridiculous.

Lani asks Keith, Carson's dad, to come in and talk because Carson has been challenging overall, and she feels she needs to understand more about him. Keith explains that Carson has always been very particular about what touches his skin. He won't wear shirts with labels on the inside or any kind of pants except soft sweats. He has been like this since he was a tiny baby. Keith never could use swaddling blankets that had any kind of texture or put Carson in diapers with elastic on the leg edges. Keith explains that Carson really, really can't stand socks with seams-he is not being deliberately bad. Keith shares that the pediatrician had helped him understand that a small percentage of children are especially sensitive to stimulation from touch, sounds, and sights, and this has always been the case with Carson.

This discussion really helps Lani understand. She has noticed that Carson does pretty well in the morning session with eight children, but when the afternoon children join the full-day class, his behavior just falls apart. She now realizes that the sounds and sights of 20 children all at once may overwhelm Carson. She also feels bad about being so angry about the sock tantrum. It really felt like Carson was just being stubborn, but Keith has helped her to realize that Carson has always had a special sensitivity to touch.

Keith has replaced all the things in the change of clothes cubby with clothes that Carson can wear, and Lani is thinking about ways to set up the classroom with quiet spaces and private nooks, so she can help Carson reduce stimulation when he needs to.

Handout C-4 | Handout C-2 | Module 2| Index

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