Balancing Temperaments of Young Infants in Group Care Moriah Stegall Jennifer Klutz Cindy McGaha, Ph.D. Lucy Brock Child Development Lab Program Appalachian State University

Development: Sameroff, Bowlby- attachment theory, Ainsworth- attachment and primary caregivers Temperament: Traits, individual personality types Brain Development Professional Caregiving: Ratios, supports, caregiver personality, goodness of fit, best practice

Sameroff

Bowlby Attachment Theory Proximity Maintenance - The desire to be near the people we are attached to. Safe Haven - Returning to the attachment figure for comfort and safety in the face of a fear or threat. Secure Base - The attachment figure acts as a base of security from which the child can explore the surrounding environment. Separation Distress - Anxiety that occurs in the absence of the attachment figure.

Ainsworth Attachment and Primary Caregivers

Temperament Traits, individual personality types Parenting methods and techniques must be compatible with their personalities 1) knowing the proper parenting techniques and how to discipline 2) how it affects the parent's view of the child and themselves as parents. Both of these dimensions are critical in determining how the parent-child relationship evolves over time. Parents who try to make the child fit their concept of the 'perfect child' usually end up feeling very frustrated. A better approach is to observe and learn about the infant's behavioral style and then change the way the parent reacts to the situation. Temperamental characteristics can be very positive in some situations and challenging in others. Only by sensitizing themselves to the infant's personality can parents learn how to respond to in a helpful way. Most parents learn this through a period of trial and error but when conflict continues to increase rather than resolve itself, or when it appears unexpectedly, assistance may be welcome.

Do not punish the child for temperamental style. If a child is shy, she should not be reprimanded for being hesitant toward a stanger. If the child adapts gradually, she shouldn't be punished for not obeying completely if her response is better than last time (moving in the right direction). If the child is intense she shouldn't be criticized for being loud when she feels upset, just as she isn't punished for being loud when she is happy. If a child is irregular, she shouldn't be punished for not being hungry at every meal or not ready to sleep at every bed time

Notice the times when things are going well. How are you reacting at the times when you and she are feeling good about each other? There are clues there about what the infant or child needs. ● Recognize and accept the way the infant really is. If parenting is stressful and your infant doesn't act like the one next door, she may be 'spirited' and need specialized parenting techniques. You may need to learn more about how to parent a spirited child than the parent next door.

● Recognize your feelings toward the child. It can be isolating to feel that you are frustrated rather than fulfilled as a parent, that you are stressed by parenting rather than energized by it and that you sometimes wish that your child were different. Lots of other parents have these feelings. Find a way to discuss these feelings honestly. It will probably benefit your child also, if you do.

4. How can professionals help parents deal with infants and children who have difficult temperament characteristics? There are four basic ways to use temperament information to help children and their caregivers: a) Education about the existence of temperament differences; b) Individual behavioral assessment of a particular child, using a standardized questionnaire; c) Environmental intervention; systematically changing the environment to accommodate temperamental characteristics; d) Support groups to share experiences, discuss parenting techniques, and strategies for coping with a spirited youngster.

Brain Development

Professional Caregiving Ratios, supports, caregiver personality, goodness of fit, best practice