Parents Guide to Temperament: A Video Tape Series (set)

The Parents Guide to Temperament is a series of four DVDs and was developed to introduce parents to the temperament approach of understanding the behavior of preschool-age children. The series is based on the original research of Drs Stella Chess and Alexander Thomas and the work of the Temperament Program at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

An interview with Dr. Chess is included in each of the four DVDs. Also included are a wide variety of behaviors that children exhibit as being "normal."

The set includes:

Knowing Your Child (14 minutes) - In this part of the set, parents learn about the nine different temperament traits children have and the combination of temperament traits that may cause behavior problems. Some techniques that parents might try in order to prevent these temperament based problems are identified and demonstrated;

Understanding Your Slow-Adapting Child (16 minutes)- In this program, parents learn about the different behavior issues that are common for children with the temperament combination of high-activity, slow-adapting, and low rhythmicity. Children are shown at home and at play demonstrating some of the main characteristics of this combination including refusal to obey adult requests; hitting, biting, and fighting with other children; difficulty getting to sleep and waking up; and returning to forbidden activities. Parents are offered some techniques that they might try to prevent these behaviors and increase adaptability;

Understanding Your Intense, Slow-Adapting Child (17 minutes) - This session is intended to inform parents of preschool-age children with temperament based behavior problems. Parents learn about the different behavior issues that are common for children with the temperament combination of high-intensity and slow-adapting, the pre-existing conditions that may precipitate behavior problems by reducing adaptability, events that act as "triggers", and some techniques parents might try in order to prevent these behaviors; and

Understanding Your Senstitive and Withdrawing Child (15 minutes) - In this session, parents learn about the different behavior issues that are common for withdrawing children with high sensitivity and intensity, and some techniques parents might try in order to prevent these temperament-based problems.

Available As: 4 DVDs
Produced By: Kaiser Permanente
Running Time: 62 total minutes