Florence Littauer : Personality Plus for Parents

Florence Littauer's Personality Plus for Parents is in my top 10 parenting books, along with the Babywise Series, Good and Angry, Don't Make Me Count To Three, and Terrific Toddlers.

Littauer's Personality Plus series takes the ancient Greek theory of the four humours (Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic, and Phlegmatic), and applies it to temperament.  She identifies the key positive and negative characteristics of each personality type, and goes on to discuss blended types, and interactions between people of different types.

This book applies the theory to children, and I have found it to be amazingly accurate and very helpful, particularly for those of my children who have different personalities from myself.  I have also gained a great deal of perspective why a child may continue to struggle with a specific character flaw despite consistent loving discipline.

For example, my middle child fits the profile of the Sanguine-Choleric. She is outgoing, talkative, impulsive, and eager to please (Sanguine traits); but she also likes to be in charge, has a quick temper, and has a lot of initiative (Choleric traits).  Knowing her profile has helped me to be understanding and patient in working on her weaknesses.

Aside from the personality profiles, the book also discusses how parents and children of each personality type interact. It discusses the natural strengths of each relationship, but also the potential problems.  A Choleric parent and a choleric child, for example, will almost certainly have constant battles for control, unless the child learns to willingly follow the leadership of the parent.

The one weakness I found is a tendency to excuse character flaws as "it's their temperament".  I agree that we all have our natural strengths and weaknesses, but that we parents need to be proactive in praying for God's grace to work in our children's hearts, and to be loving and consistent in our discipline.

So I would highly recommend this book in a permanent position on any parent's bookshelf, particularly if your oldest child is around 2.5 or older, when their unique personality traits begin to emerge.  The insight into the parents' profiles is instantly applicable.