--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My Webster’s dictionary defines spirited…" description: "\"“My Webster’s dictionary defines spirited as: lively, creative, keen, eager, full of energy and courage, and having a strong assertive personality. Spi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_courage_my-webster-s-dictionary-defines-spirited_2008302.jpg" --- # My Webster’s dictionary defines spirited as: lively… ![“My Webster’s dictionary defines spirited as: lively, creative, keen, eager, full of energy and courage, and having a strong assertive personality. Spirited—it feels good, sounds good, communicates the exciting potential of these children, and yet honestly captures the challenge faced by their…” quote by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_courage_my-webster-s-dictionary-defines-spirited_2008302.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_courage_my-webster-s-dictionary-defines-spirited_2008302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_courage_my-webster-s-dictionary-defines-spirited_2008302.jpg) > ““My Webster’s dictionary defines spirited as: lively, creative, keen, eager, full of energy and courage, and having a strong assertive personality. Spirited—it feels good, sounds good, communicates the exciting potential of these children, and yet honestly captures the challenge faced by their parents. When we choose to see our children as spirited, we give them and ourselves hope. It pulls our focus to their strengths rather than their weaknesses, not as another label but as a tool for understanding. The Characteristics Each spirited child is unique, yet there exists distinct characteristics in which more is very apparent. Not all spirited children will possess all of the following five characteristics, but each will exhibit enough of them to make her stand out in the crowd.”” [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes “spirited” as a positive, energetic trait in children, encouraging strengths‑focused view rather than labeling. **In simple terms:** Spirited means lively and courageous. Key Takeaway Focus on strengths, not deficits. Themes parenting education child development strengths‑based psychology Mood supportive encouraging Type educational psychological When to use this quote - classroom - family counseling - parent‑teacher meetings - child therapy Key Concepts growth mindset positive labeling resilience empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can parents balance encouragement with discipline? - What supports help spirited children thrive? A Different Perspective May overlook challenges of high energy behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Spirited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirited/) ## Related quotes > [“5. You may celebrate and enjoy the delights of your spirited child. You can concentrate on strengths, appreciate her tender heart, and tickle your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/5-you-may-celebrate-and-enjoy-the-delights-of-your-spirited-child-you/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“WHILE EACH SPIRITED CHILD IS UNIQUE, most are more intense, persistent, sensitive, perceptive, and uncomfortable with change. Many, but not all, possess four additional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/while-each-spirited-child-is-unique-most-are-more-intense-persistent/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“Love your spirited child for who she is. Because she is more, she will make you more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/love-your-spirited-child-for-who-she-is-because-she-is-more-she-will/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“Intense spirited kids need to hear phrases like: You are enthusiastic. You are expressive and lively. That can be frustrating. You are very upset,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/intense-spirited-kids-need-to-hear-phrases-like-you-are-enthusiastic/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“3. You are not powerless. There is information in this book to help you understand your spirited child. You can read it and use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/3-you-are-not-powerless-there-is-information-in-this-book-to-help-you/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [I have what's known as a 'spirited' child. Mia has run me ragged since she knew how to walk. She'd run across soccer fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-have-what-s-known-as-a-spirited-child-mia-has-run-me-ragged-since/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/a-credo-for-parents-of-spirited-children-1-you-re-not-alone-according/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/7-energy-the-tales-of-spirited-kids-i-hear-from-parents-are-truly-2/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“3. SENSITIVITY: Keenly aware, spirited kids quickly respond to the slightest noises, smells, lights, textures, or changes in mood. They are easily overwhelmed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/3-sensitivity-keenly-aware-spirited-kids-quickly-respond-to-the/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“THE BONUS CHARACTERISTICS are not common to all spirited kids, but if your child possesses any of them, you will need to be even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/the-bonus-characteristics-are-not-common-to-all-spirited-kids-but-if/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“2. PERSISTENCE: If an idea or an activity is important to them, spirited children can “lock” right in. They are committed to their task,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/2-persistence-if-an-idea-or-an-activity-is-important-to-them-spirited/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/2-you-did-not-make-your-child-spirited-there-is-a-genetic-factor-to/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/i-m-not-sure-if-it-was-the-despondent-look-in-a-parent-s-big-brown/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/9-mood-the-world-is-a-serious-place-for-some-spirited-kids-they-re/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“1. INTENSITY: The loud, dramatic spirited children are the easiest to spot. They don’t cry; they shriek. They’re noisy when they play, when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/1-intensity-the-loud-dramatic-spirited-children-are-the-easiest-to/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) ## More by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka > [“2. PERSISTENCE: If an idea or an activity is important to them, spirited children can “lock” right in. They are committed to their task,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/2-persistence-if-an-idea-or-an-activity-is-important-to-them-spirited/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“8. FIRST REACTION: A quick withdrawal from anything new is typical of many spirited kids. Any unfamiliar idea, thing, place, or person may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/8-first-reaction-a-quick-withdrawal-from-anything-new-is-typical-of/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/when-you-re-in-the-middle-and-stuck-you-need-to-know-when-to-back-out/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/it-almost-seems-un-american-at-times-to-have-kids-who-are-slow-to/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/9-mood-the-world-is-a-serious-place-for-some-spirited-kids-they-re/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/i-m-not-sure-if-it-was-the-despondent-look-in-a-parent-s-big-brown/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“6. REGULARITY: Figuring out when they will sleep or eat is a daily puzzle for parents of spirited children who are irregular. It seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/6-regularity-figuring-out-when-they-will-sleep-or-eat-is-a-daily/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“INTENSITY A Summary Intensity is the driving force behind the strong reactions of the spirited child. It is the invisible punch that makes every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/intensity-a-summary-intensity-is-the-driving-force-behind-the-strong/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/7-energy-the-tales-of-spirited-kids-i-hear-from-parents-are-truly/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/words-control-the-impulses-without-them-children-have-no-protective/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/2-you-did-not-make-your-child-spirited-there-is-a-genetic-factor-to/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/a-credo-for-parents-of-spirited-children-1-you-re-not-alone-according/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“4. You have permission to take care of yourself. Your own need for sleep, quiet, uninterrupted adult conversation, lovemaking, a leisurely bath, a walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/4-you-have-permission-to-take-care-of-yourself-your-own-need-for/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“And while the temperamentally active child will always be an energetic individual, how that looks can change over time. With guidance from you, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/and-while-the-temperamentally-active-child-will-always-be-an/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“You Do Make a Difference But biology is not destiny. What we now know is that nature and nurture matter. 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When we choose to see our children as spirited, we give them and ourselves hope. It pulls our focus to their strengths rather than their weaknesses, not as another label but as a tool for understanding. The Characteristics Each spirited child is unique, yet there exists distinct characteristics in which more is very apparent. 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