An examination of a temperament-based intervention in selected early childhood institutions in Jamaica

Abstract

ABSTRACTINSIGHTS into children’s temperaments is an intervention that provides parents and teachers with child behaviour management strategies tailored to fit children’s personality styles. A mixed-methods intervention design was utilized. All 5-year-old students in three schools received the programme. Five-year-old students from another three schools were control groups. Thirty-five children were randomly selected for the administration of the scales. At the end of 10-weeks, 30 parents and 4 teachers whose schools received the treatment took part in a focus group discussion. Due to the small sample sizes, the changes in children’s behaviours and academic performance were not statistically significant. The qualitative findings suggested that the adults had an increased understanding of children’s temperaments.