The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) has released its 23rd What Works Brief, Understanding Temperament in Infants and Toddlers, which explains why temperament is important, provides some clarifications about temperament, and explains how to use what you know about temperament to promote positive social-emotional development and behavior. A handout called the Temperament Continuum is also provided to help you analyze where your temperament is similar and different to the children you care for. It is available at http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/wwb/wwb23.html

The Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation has developed a tool to help parents and caregivers to explore their own temperament traits, as well as those of a child for whom they provide care. Results from using the Infant Toddler Temperament Tool support parents and caregivers in understanding how adult and child similarities and differences in temperament traits may affect “goodness of fit” and provide tips to foster the unique temperament of each child within their care. Find the Tool and related information at http://www.ecmhc.org/temperament/index.html

Sources: Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning; Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation