The following nine traits can be observed in the way an infant, child, or adult INITIALLY reacts to a stimulus situation most of the time. These descriptions of normal traits are on a continuum. Only the extremes are described, but the entire continuum is "normal."

1. activity level

   active --------------------------------------quiet

   An active child is comfortable when active. A quiet child is comfortable being still; may need to be encouraged to act or move.

   ---

2. regularity

   regular -------------------------------------irregular

   A regular child is predictable. Needs can be determined in part by the predictable nature of bodily functions. Regular sleep times, eating times, amount of sleep, elimination. An irregular child is NOT predictable from day to day.

3. adaptability

   adapts quickly ----------------------------------slow to adapt

   When faced with changes in a schedule or routine, new food, new people, new places, the adaptable child quickly accepts the change. Slow to adapt children take more time to "get used to" things.

4. approach/withdrawal

   initial approach ---------------------------initial withdrawal

   Faced with something new, the approach oriented child "goes for it," is eager to reach for the new. At the opposite end, a child will back away from something new, may even seem fearful at first.

5. physical sensitivity

   not sensitive ------------------------------very sensitive

   A child who does not seem to notice pain has a high sensory threshold. It takes a lot of stimilus to cause a reaction. A low sensory threshold results in a very sensitive child who is bothered by lots of things. Noise, temperature, differences in taste, the feel of clothing are experienced differently determined by sensory threshold.

6. intensity of reaction

   high intensity ------------------------------mild reaction

   A child's reaction does not represent the intensity of his feelings. A child with high intensity reacts loudly and with great emotion to everything -- laughs loud, cries loud, screams loud --regardless. A child who reacts mildly to stimuli does not feel less or experience less. The mild reactor is quiet and reacts quietly.

7. distractibility

   very distractible -------------------not distractible

   Some children can be easily distracted from their current interest. They notice everything. Some children are non distractible -- it is very hard to get them to notice any thing other than what is immediately in front of them.

8. positive or negative mood

   positive mood-------------------------negative mood

   Mothers have always known that some babies are happier at birth than others. A person with a positive mood tends to react to things in a positive spirit. The initial reaction is positive. A child with a negative mood reacts to things initially with a negative reaction.

   See Coping with a Negative Child

9. persistence

   long attention span -------------------short attention span

   Some children are capable of sustained effort from the beginning. Other children give up quickly. Whether this is called attention span, persistence, or stubbornness, children come with varying degrees.