“3. SENSITIVITY: Keenly aware, spirited kids quickly respond to the slightest noises, smells, lights, textures, or changes in mood. They are easily overwhelmed in crowds by the barrage of sensations. Getting them through a shopping center, long religious service, carnival,… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share Image
“2. PERSISTENCE: If an idea or an activity is important to them, spirited children can “lock” right in. They are committed to their task,… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“8. FIRST REACTION: A quick withdrawal from anything new is typical of many spirited kids. Any unfamiliar idea, thing, place, or person may be… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“When you’re in the middle and stuck, you need to know when to back out and call for help. If that person is someone… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“It almost seems un-American, at times, to have kids who are slow to warm up. Other people tell us to push them—to force them… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“9. MOOD: The world is a serious place for some spirited kids. They’re analytical, meticulously reviewing experiences, finding the flaws, and making suggestions for… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“I’m not sure if it was the despondent look in a parent’s big brown eyes and the hopeless shake of her head or if… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“6. REGULARITY: Figuring out when they will sleep or eat is a daily puzzle for parents of spirited children who are irregular. It seems… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“INTENSITY A Summary Intensity is the driving force behind the strong reactions of the spirited child. It is the invisible punch that makes every… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“7. ENERGY: The tales of spirited kids I hear from parents are truly amazing, like that of the two-week old baby that “crawled” the… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“Words control the impulses; without them children have no protective devices to slow their reactions. Frequently I am asked, “Aren’t you just begging for… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“2. You did not make your child spirited. There is a genetic factor to being spirited, but how one’s genes are expressed is significantly… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“A Credo for Parents of Spirited Children 1. You’re not alone. According to the personality research 10 to 15 percent of all children living… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“4. You have permission to take care of yourself. Your own need for sleep, quiet, uninterrupted adult conversation, lovemaking, a leisurely bath, a walk… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“And while the temperamentally active child will always be an energetic individual, how that looks can change over time. With guidance from you, your… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
“You Do Make a Difference But biology is not destiny. What we now know is that nature and nurture matter. How your child’s temperament… — Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Copy Share
