Raising Your Spirited Child part 3 (of 5)

Part 3 - Living with Spirit

Part 2 is here
Part 1 is here

By planning for success, situations with potential for disaster can be avoided or reworked so that everyone is smiling by the end of it. Grocery shopping might be done with both parents, so that one shops while the other takes the kids around the store doing fun tasks or games. Difficult situations can be broken down to isolate where the greatest source of trouble or frustration is, and adjustement can be made - if choosing the day's outfit is an issue, maybe that can be done the night before when there's no rush or pressure. If making transitions is the problem, plan a way to ease them and give the child time to adapt. Be aware of environmental settings - if dinner at a restaurant is out, maybe an outdoor picnic would work. Bring along toys if that helps.

Sleep is also adressed with tips for each temperament type, but the main point here is to do what works and what keeps everyone happy, not what relatives or neighbors think is acceptable. Most spirited children need help to soothe them to sleep. A routine, calming activities, and a warning time to wind down and give closure to the day can help.

Mealtimes can be especially challenging with a spirited child. Thay can be intense about their tastes, and how they prefer to eat. As a parent, your job is to offer healthy food instead of junk. It's your child's job to choose from your limits. So keep good food well-stocked and appetizing, and keep junk out. That alone will prevent lots of hassles. Kids should be able to help themselves to snacks, so buy healthy snacks and make them self-serve. Each temperament type has a section of tips for succeeding at meals. Kids may not like a food, but they can learn to have manners and say, 'no thank you,' instead of, 'yuk!' There are more good specifics for avoiding mealtime hassles.

Dressing can create problems if kids are hyper-sensitive to things like seams, or easily distracted, or frustrated. A distraction-free place to dress, easy clothes, and some organization can help. There are pointers for shopping and choosing clothes that will encourage success.