Are you excited about being a parent and want to nurture your child in the best way you can? Have you taken a personality test for your child and are worried about discovering his natural inclinations? These are 5 things you need to know about testing your child’s personality type:

1) Realise your child’s personality type (as well as your own)

Do you ever feel irked when your child’s behaviour doesn’t match your expectations?

You are tired after work and want to read a nice story to your child- but he is super energetic and wants to skate, bike, hike, somersault and make you run all around the house till you lose your patience. On the other hand, you might be super energetic and have plans set all for the day. You want to rush to the grocery store but your child insists on slowly tying his shoelaces, daydreaming and playing with it until you finally lose your nerves.

We often tend to forget that just like any other person, you and your child are distinct individuals with different personality traits. Hence, if you identify how your personalities are different and how they are alike, it gets easier to maintain your calm and be a better parent. Knowing your child’s personality type as well as your own goes a long way in understanding why your child behaves the way he does.

2) Help them cultivate traits that don’t come naturally to them

Sometimes you might possess some abilities that might be useful for your adolescent to learn. A good example is if you are an extrovert but your child is naturally shy and reserved, you can encourage your child to mingle with other children at school, on the playground, in social settings such as parties, and even while travelling.

Simple steps could include showing him how to say hello, or teaching cooperation like when he has to line up with other kids to slide down the slide. And after awhile (even though his natural inclination might remain shy and reserved) he will become used to, and gradually even start enjoying the company of other kids- learning how to make friends along the way, and on his own terms.

In this manner, your child will learn to act in a balanced way depending on the environment, people and expectations. He may be adventurous and fun-loving at times, and yet exercise prudence when needed. By knowing your child’s personality type, you can help them develop traits that are essential for them to succeed in relationships and environment.

3) Nature vs Nurture

What matters more- nature or nurture? A popular subject of debate among the psychiatric fraternity, this question might bother a lot of parents too at some point. If you are concerned about a set of behavioural genes that your child might have inherited from you or your family, the short answer is DON’T.

It is highly improbable for your child’s personality traits to be hereditary. In fact, your child’s personality is far more likely to be shaped by multiple factors, some of which will include biology and your parenting style/upbringing. Observing & understanding how your children absorb the world around them, or how environmental factors affect their temperament, might help you figure out the best approach to take in shaping their individual personalities.

Don’t stereotype your child into any one personality type. Instead, why not relish the journey of their personal development as you see them grow from an innocent child to a confident adult. Soon you will realise that every child has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses which cannot be summed up in any single, defining personality type.

4) Recognising your child’s natural inclination

A parent who has raised more than one child will know that no two children are exactly alike (even twins!). Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all parenting approach either. Each child is unique and has a personality trait which is different from the other.

Your child loves to draw, play music or write songs- but you want him to be the captain of the football team just as you were. How often do we try to force our own personality traits or our dreams on our children? We often ignore our child’s natural gifts and try to confine them within a box of our own expectations. This could limit the development and possible potential of the child, and might even lower their self-esteem in some cases.

Recognising your child’s natural talent and providing the environment that strengthens it, is the biggest gift you can give to your child.

5) Know about testing personalities too early

If you are anxious about the personality development of your child and put a lot of importance on testing child personality, there are a few facts that you should know.

Knowing your child’s temperament might make parenting easier for you, but it is important to understand that personalities shape up as children grow and learn. Personality development is a process determined by biological, family, cultural and situational factors.

Every child is unique and so is the way in which they absorb the world around them. This, in turn, influences their behaviour and attitude as they continue to grow. If you have built a prejudice based on a personality test conducted of your child, you might be surprised to see them develop in an entirely different manner than you expect them to.

Your relation with your child has more impact on him than any other person. So do all you can to nurture your child, and set an example for him or her, that you can be proud of. When children feel accepted by their parents, they believe in themselves too. Accept the uniqueness of your child and tell them that you believe in them.