Personality Tests for Kids & How They Can Aid Parenting

As a connoisseur of all things related to analyzing personalities and all the fascinating ways they intertwine, it’s only natural that I love picking apart my kids personalities. It helps too see and understand the things that make each of our kids an individual. It gives a clearer path for both encouragement and discipline.

There are so many great personality tests out there – Myers Briggs and Enneagram just to name a couple. But with kids, intensive questionnaire tests like those just don’t work. Since kids aren’t developed enough in life experiences, they don’t have much to pull from when answering questions. So with kids, I like to explore the more “general” type tests. My two favorites are The Color Code and The Four Temperaments. What is great about these is most times they don’t even require the child even taking the test. As the parent, you could answer the questions based on your in-depth knowledge of your child!

First Things First: Know Which You Are

This is just as important as knowing your kid. You know that saying about how you can’t truly love someone else until you love yourself? That same idea applies here! Parenting at our best can’t be our best until we know our best…and our worst. For my husband and I, having full knowledge of how we operate individually, is key to parenting. So don’t skip the test!  Knowing my temperament/color, allows me to give myself grace when I feel friction with their temperament/color. 

And of Course: Know Your Kid(s)

I recommend answering the questions with your spouse or other family member because your personal temperament will most likely play a role even in how you respond for your child. Each temperament / color interacts with each other in different ways. So, the more you know, the less you’ll be caught off guard when conflict arises or when you observe your child reacting to life differently than you would. I have 1 child who’s temperament is similar to mine, and another whose is different. They both trigger different emotions (read: frustration, anger, annoyance…you get the point!) out of me. 

The Four Temperaments

Sanguine – boisterous, bubbly, chatty, openly emotional, social extroverts.

Melancholic – emotionally sensitive, perfectionist introverts.

Phlegmatic – meek, submissive introverts who live to please others.

Choleric – proud, extroverted “alphas’ of our species. 

The Color Code

Redpower: responsible, decisive and proactive.

Blueintimacy: loyal, sincere and thoughtful.

Whitepeace: charismatic, spontaneous and social.

Yellowfun: kind, adaptable and good listener. 

 

Want to explore more??

Click here to read up on the Four Primary Temperaments. And if you want to get super cray-cray, click here to read about the Fifteen Blended Temperaments.

Click here to take The Color Code test. There are a few questions that might be tricky to answer depending on your child’s age, but just answer to the best of your ability and knowledge).

Click here to read about your color relationship as a parent.

We all want to be intentional with how to encourage and where to lean in with each child individually, right? I feel like that’s something we can all agree on. And from personal experience, I’m so thankful we’ve taken the time and effort to further know ourselves and study our children on these levels. I want to love my kids for exactly who they are, but it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to love them for who you want them to be…enter, personality tests!

 


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Missy Daniel
Born in Memphis, TN, Missy was raised in Japan until returning to Memphis at age 13. She earned a degree in Child Development & Family Studies from the University of Memphis. She and Craig were married in June 2009 and have 2 high spirited daughters, Lindley Belle (2011) and Dottie Grace (2014) and a 6 year old chocolate lab named Jake. They moved to Wichita in late 2015 and very quickly made it HOME! Missy is a lover of coffee in the morning and wine in the evening, cooking without a recipe, finding any excuse to host a party, date nights that indulge her affection for good eats, strength training and chats with friends about their passions. She treasures the community they have built in Wichita!