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Child Case Study

Julia Johnson

Tarrant County College

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Phase 1: Observing and Documenting the Child’s Temperament

Introduction

Temperament is defined as "the basic style" which shapes a person's behavior.

Temperament refers to personality traits which determine how a person reacts to different

circumstances. Temperaments are mostly innate traits that we are born with, but these traits

could also be influenced by the environment in which we live and by our family (Rymanowicz,

2017). Each person has individual temperament traits, which develop unique identities and

personalities. Temperament brings a context and a way of thinking to one's behavior. Parenting

styles can change the traits of their children if they feel that their child has developed ineffective

behavior or traits. Understanding a child's temperament enables parents to have appropriate

expectations from them. Parents directly influence the temperament of their children, they should

ensure that they are showing the right behavior in front of them (Rymanowicz, 2017).

Qualitative Analysis

The evaluation of the temperament traits of the case study boy, a one-year-old named

Jorge Soto, shows that he is a frustrating child unless he has his favorite things in front of him.

Jorge Soto is a selective child and has developed a unique set of traits compared to his parents.

As explained by his parents, he is a moody person because, in front of his favorite things, he is

more likely to stay happy and satisfied and vice versa. Jorge Soto's temperament style is difficult

to understand. According to the first trait (Activity level), The rating is a 4. He is moderately

active because his mood is difficult to tackle when he wakes up from sleep for one to two hours.

Then he remains active all day, but when we host a new guest, he remains calm in front of them

too. His mother said in front of guests; he does not interact with anyone or participate in any

activity. The second temperament trait is rhythmicity, and according to his mother, his eating

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schedules are regular, but he sleeps at different times. Sometimes he sleeps more in the morning

and less in the evening, negatively affecting my routine. For this reason, this trait is rated a 2

because he is not much irregular or ineffective in his routines and repetitive behaviors. In terms

of approach/withdrawal approach, I rated it a 5 Jorge does not adjust to changes and new

situations quickly. According to his mother, he doesn’t go up to people but rather me to himself.

He takes extra time to adjust to new people and different environments. He usually hesitates in

new social settings and instead of joining, he tries his best to avoid. New situations and different

environments quickly affect Jorge’s mood.

Moreover, according to the adaptability trait, I rated a 5 Jorge is less adaptable than his

fellows. He struggles to adapt things on his own, but it takes time. According to the sensory

threshold trait, Jorge is not sensitive to anything around him. He is not sensitive to new clothes,

food, and different items; normally, kids get sensitive to such items around them. I rated Jorge a

1. The quality of his mood is rated a 4 it’s neither positive nor negative, but he is a moderate

person, and his mood depends on the things and people around him. For the trait "intensity of

reactions," I rated him a 4 he is moderate when it comes to reactions. There are some incidents in

which he is reactive, like when he is watching his favorite cartoons, and his mother changes the

channel. He would be reactive to it compared to someone fighting in the room, and he is

listening to the sound. For the Distractibility trait, I rated Jorge a 3 he likes to remain in his own

zone. According to his mother, talking to him while his favorite movie Encanto was on was

difficult; I tried to hand him a bottle, and he turned me out. The attention span trait is rated a 5.

Because Jorge can focus on things for a long period of time without showing frustration or

discomfort.

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Analysis of traits and qualities of Jorge Soto shows that he is a moody person. His mother

should spend time with him and guide him to get comfortable with people. The analysis of his

personality traits shows that he is going to grow as an introverted child.

Types of Temperament

There are three types of temperaments, easy-going, slow-to-warm, and active. Easy-going

children are active and happy from birth and get comfortable with new environments without

mood swings and challenges. Slow-to-warm children generally take time to adjust to new

environments. They have been calm and observant since birth. Children having active

temperaments are varied in their sleeping and eating patterns (Li, 2022). Based on these types of

temperaments, Jorge Soto is a slow-to-warm child because he takes time to adjust to new

environments and to get comfortable with new people.

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