The personality development of children varies. One child will develop differently than another child. But what is the ultimate age at which certain personality traits are correct or adequate in a child? This article provides characteristics of children aged 3 to 6 years to identify whether there may be a developmental delay, obstacles, an abnormal development course or perhaps a developmental disorder in terms of personality.
Personality Development Child – Checklist Signs of Personality Problems
Characteristics and skills in the area of personality are listed below, followed by (a guideline for) the ultimate age at which the behavior or expressions of the personality traits are appropriate or appropriate for a child. In other words, whether or not they are age appropriate or at age level.
Developmental Delay Personality – Personality Development Disorder
Developmental delay – Developmental disability
Although every child develops at their own pace, there comes a certain time or age when a child should be able to master a certain skill. This is related to the normal, average development course of average (early) childhood development in the field of personality.
- Developmental delay: We speak of a delay if a child deviates only slightly from the average.
- Developmental disorder: A disorder is when a child deviates greatly from the average, is very behind or is different from his or her peers.
Identifying Personality Problems
It should be expressly noted that this is not a diagnostic criteria or a causal model, but only a checklist for global screening and identifying characteristics in order to (early) identify any developmental problems.
Personality Development Overview – Personality Development Course
The overviews below regarding the development of personality are suitable for parents, caregivers, group leaders, general practitioners, clinics, teachers, school doctors, etc. to identify any problems and raise the alarm, i.e. to call for help and guidance. There is a division into 5 signals, overviews with the associated behaviors (characteristics/skills), indicating when/at what age the behavior in question should no longer occur. Or put differently: if certain personality traits still occur, this can be considered deviant.
Not Age Appropriate Personality Traits – Hindrance to Developmental Progress
In terms of personality development, the following signals are a sign that the child’s development is not progressing undisturbed or at age level:
- Dependence and lack of willpower
- Passivity and lack of initiative
- Disturbed or disturbed development of conscience
- Fears or anxious behavior
- Insufficient distinction between reality and fantasy
The above signals are discussed in more detail in the overviews below, with maximum age limits.
Personality Development Phases – Signals Personality Formation 3 to 7 years
Dependence and Lack of Willpower |
Ultimate Age |
Child shows no self-confidence |
3 years |
Demands all attention, is strongly claiming, insatiable |
3 years |
Child is so withdrawn that you almost forget about him/her |
3 years |
Has a very negative attitude: “I can’t do it, I can’t do it anyway” |
4 years |
Has superficial curiosity, shows no real interest |
4 years |
Is suspicious of others, keeps a constant eye on them |
5 years |
The child cannot persevere with anything and does not complete anything |
5 years |
Child is everyone’s friend |
6 years |
Child has no opinion of his own |
6 years |
Passivity and Lack of Initiative |
Ultimate Age |
Child does not investigate objects on his own |
2 years |
Does not make any attempt to make contact on his own |
3 years |
The child does not make an effort and thinks everything is fine |
3 years |
Doesn’t know what it wants, can’t make a choice |
4 years |
Suffers from extreme fear of failure: “I can’t” |
4 years |
Withdraws because others can do everything better |
5 years |
Child becomes ashamed (too) quickly |
5 years |
Child does not dare to tell his/her story in the circle |
5 years |
Child always compares himself with others |
6 years |
He or she makes a lot of grimaces, plays the clown (clownish behavior) |
7 years |
Disturbed – Disturbed Development of Conscience |
Ultimate Age |
The child does not care if he/she causes pain to others |
4 years |
Can’t make a connection between what it does and how people respond to it |
4 years |
Is really not sensitive to punishment from adults (doesn’t really matter) |
5 years |
Does not sense what parents think is good and not good |
5 years |
Child often takes things away |
5 years |
Is always afraid of criticism, even when everything is going well |
5 years |
Child jokes a lot, seems to believe in it himself |
6 years |
Child shows no remorse or remorse |
6 years |
Tries to please others at his own expense |
6 years |
Child wants to do everything (too) perfectly |
6 years |
Fears – Anxious Behavior |
Ultimate Age |
Has been sleeping restlessly for a long period of time, is often awake |
any age |
Is extremely anxious when strangers enter |
3 years |
The child cannot be left alone for a while |
3 years |
Child cannot tolerate loud noises |
4 years |
Child is afraid of other children |
4 years |
Child cannot defend himself against teasing |
5 years |
Child still wets the bed every night |
6 years |
Child lives in a dream world |
6 years |
Child is afraid of/in the dark |
7 years |
Insufficient Distinction Fantasy – Reality |
Ultimate Age |
Always plays with the same object, does not dare to play other games |
3 years |
Child becomes anxious about his own fantasies |
4 years |
Extreme daydreaming, which makes him/her difficult to listen |
5 years |
Thinks it is another person or animal |
5 years |
Lives completely in a world of insects and reptiles |
6 years |
Always assumes that others also know or see his/her fantasy boyfriend |
6 years |
Child thinks fairy tales are true |
6 years |
Is very afraid of getting dirty with sand, water, clay |
6 years |
Child is easy to fool |
7 years |
Child has only one topic of conversation |
7 years |
read more
- Motor Development – Signs of developmental problems
- Social Development Child – Signs of Developmental Problems
- Speech-language development – Signs of Developmental Problems
- Child Game Development – Signs of Developmental Problems
- Development of Self-reliance – Signs of a Development Problem