What’s your child’s personality?

Have you got a tearaway tot or a bashful babe? Take our quiz to find out. . .

1. You and your child are at a music group. When the toy instruments come out, what does she do?

a. Wait for you to bring her one.
b. Happily pick up whatever’s nearest.
c. Push everyone else aside and grab the biggest, noisiest drum.

2. You’ve just got to the slide in the playground. What’s your baby most likely to do next?

a. Stay in the buggy, watching everyone else.
b. Lift up her arms to ask to be let out.
c. Tip up the buggy in her desperation to get out.

3. You’re walking down the high street. What’s your child doing?

a. Looking in the shop windows.
b. Waving hello to everyone you meet.
c. Running away.

4. You’re taking your baby to play at another house. What’s your biggest worry?

a. She won’t leave your side all afternoon.
b. She’ll scream and cry when it’s time to leave.
c. She’ll trash the house.

5. It’s your first day at mother and baby group. The group leader smiles at your child and says ‘hello’. What’s her reply?

a. Nothing. She’s got her face buried in your shoulder.
b. Nothing. But she gives her a big smile back.
c. Nothing. She’s too busy wriggling to be put down.

6. An older boy has snatched the toy your baby was playing with. What happens next?

a. Your child bursts into tears.
b. Your child bursts into tears and looks to you for help.
c. Your child bursts into tears and tries to snatch the toy back.

7. It’s time for a haircut. How does it go?

a. Okay. But it took you 40 minutes to get her to sit on the stool.
b. Okay. But it took you 40 minutes to make her get off the stool.
c. Okay. But her fringe is a bit wonky because she wouldn’t sit still.

8. You have several children over for a playdate and find a bunch of them in the kitchen, turning out your biscuit tin. Where is your child?

a. Hovering on the sidelines, looking hungry.
b. In the thick of things, looking guilty.
c. Holding the tin, looking delighted.

9. What kind of morning would your child hate most?

a. Going out somewhere new to meet children she doesn’t know.
b. Going to church – or anywhere where children are expected to be quiet.
c. Staying indoors to play with playdough.

10. You can always spot your child across a crowded room. Why?

a. She’ll have spotted you first.
b. She’ll be in the middle of the crowd.
c. No-one else could have a voice that loud.

How did she do?

Mostly As

Your child is a Quiet Observer. Rather than rush into social situations, she prefers to sit back and watch from the sidelines. She’s shy with anyone she doesn’t know well.

Help her by

Not pushing her to join in before she’s ready. Give her time to ‘warm up’ to group activities and, before you go off somewhere new, explain carefully what it’ll be like.

Shyness is very common among older babies and toddlers, so try not to worry about it. Instead, appoint yourself her ‘social role model’ and give her plenty of opportunity to watch you interacting confidently with others.

Mostly Bs

Your child is a Social Butterfly. She talks or babbles well, smiles a lot and loves showing off her skills in the company of others. She has the confidence to join in, even with children she doesn’t know.

Help her by

Continuing to bolster her self-esteem – even outwardly confident children can have the odd wobbly moment. But be aware that, as she grows older, her confident manner may be seen by others as pushiness.

As her verbal skills develop, encourage her to try to appreciate other people’s feelings and praise any attempts she makes to share her toys or limelight with someone else.

Mostly Cs

Your child is a Little Dynamo. She makes the average baby look like they’re living life in slow motion. She finds it hard to sit still, difficult to be quiet and impossible to wait for what she wants. 

Help her by

Giving her lots of physical activity – visits to the park, soft-play sessions, pedalling trikes, dancing round the kitchen. By funnelling off her excess energy, you’ll help her cope better with the quieter side of life.

Once she’s a toddler, encourage her to increase her ability to be still and calm by playing games using your kitchen timer: ‘Let’s see if you can sit quietly till the bell rings.’ Always be firm about any charging around that hurts or upsets others: active children need clear limits.