The 10 Faces of Childhood
GeneralIntroduction
Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader
Welcometothisworkdedicatedtothecharactersofchildren. Here,youwillfind10differenttypesofcharactersthatchildrencandevelop.
Foreachcharacter,wewill:
•Provide a clear definition.
•Tell an illustrative story to better understand this type of child.
General definitions on the characters of children Geznah.S | The Silence Reader
In children, there are two main categories of characters:
I.Natural characters
These are deep traits, present from birth.
They are part of the very essence of the child, like something inscribed in their blood. These traits are difficult to change because they represent what he is at his core.
II.Acquired characters
By: Geznah.S | The Silence Reader
These are behavioral traits that the child develops through external influence:
•The education received,
•Life experiences,
•The energies of the people around him,
•The traumas or joys experienced.
These traits are more flexible and can change or evolve over time and the environment.
Note: in many children (and therefore in many adults as well), the two types of characters mix.
A natural character can be modified or strengthened by life experiences.
Then he calmed down.
He approached softly, without a sound. And he asked, almost whispering: "Youdon'tlovemeanymore?"
Hismotherlookedathim.
Shesaidsoftly:"Yes.Iloveyouenoughnottoalwaysrespond.Becausesometimes, itissilencethateducates."
Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader
2. The Calm and Observant Child
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader
•Description:
Thischildspeakslittleandpreferstoobserveothers.Heisattentivetohisenvironment,analyzes thebehaviorsofpeopleandoftenappearsreserved.Hetakeshistimebeforeopeningup toothers.Thistypeofchildoftenhasgreatinnerdepth,butheprefersnotto manifesthimselfrightaway,observingsituationsbeforereacting.
•Acts:
•Observescarefully
•Participateslittle,butwhenhespeaks,itisoftenrelevant
•Takeshistimebeforeacting
•Reacts:
•Withdrawsifhefeelsoverwhelmed
•Preferscalmandrespectfulinteractions
•Graduallyopensuptotrustedpeople
•Psychology:
Has a strong inner intelligence and a great sensitivity to his surroundings. He needs security to fully thrive.
_Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Story: The child who spoke with his eyes
(The calm child)
He was there, always there.
But he was often forgotten. Because he did not speak. Because he disturbed no one. He stayed back, eyes wide open, watching the world.
•Changes activities without stopping
•Interrupts, talks a lot
•Reacts quickly, sometimes too quickly
•Reacts:
•Calms down with physical or playful activities
•Gets frustrated if forced to stay still
•May feel worthless if his energy is not understood
•Needs movement, not forced silence.
•Psychology:
He is not a "too" or "badly raised" child. He is a child whose body thinks as strongly as his head. We must channel his energy, not stifle it. Geznah.S | The Silence Reader
Story: The child who ran faster than his thoughts
(The hyperactive child)
Once upon a time, there was a little boy who ran before he even knew where he was going.
Barely awake, he was already jumping out of bed.
Barely arrived at school, he asked a thousand questions without waiting for answers. As soon as he entered a room, he had already touched all the objects.
Adults said:
"He is exhausting."
"He can't sit still."
"He respects nothing."
But no one saw the truth.
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader
It wasn't that he didn't want to listen. It's that everything in him was moving... all the time.
His legs wanted to run.
His hands wanted to touch.
His eyes wanted to see everything. And his heart wanted to feel everything at once.
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader
When he was forced to sit for a long time, he became nervous. His legs trembled under the table.
His fingers twirled his pencil non-stop.
His gaze wandered out the window, where the wind was allowed to move.
One day, a different teacher arrived.
She did not say:
It was being able to love more deeply than most.
5.TheMergingChild
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader
•Description:
Thischildneedstobereassuredconstantly.
Heseekshisparents'attentiontofeellikeheexists:heasks,demands,pullsonthe sleeve,wantstobeseen,heard,lovedateverymoment.
Thisisnotawhim,itisarealfearoflosingtheemotionalbond.
•Acts:
•Oftenasks"lookatme"
•Seeksphysicalcontact(cuddling,holdinghands
•Requestshelpevenwhenhecandoitalone
•Complainsorinventsreasonstoattractattention
•Reacts:
•Calmsdownwhenhereceivessincereattention
•Showsanxietyorsulkinesswhenhefeelsignored
•Mayhavelittletantrumstoregainattention
•Becomesmoreautonomousifgivenconfidencegently
•Psychology:
He needs to feel that he is loved unconditionally, even when we are not always available. Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Story: The child who wanted to be looked at always
(The merging child)
Once upon a time, there was a child who lived in a small closed world, a world where there was always one only person who mattered most to him. This child had a special bond with his mom, but it is important to understand that a merging child is not necessarily attached only to his mom. If a child has a very strong relationship with his dad, it is he who will be this central attachment figure.
_Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
This child spent hours in his mother's arms, he felt good, safe. She was his refuge, his safe harbor. Whenever he felt a little lost or anxious, it was her he sought, her arms, her smile, her soft voice. When she was not there, he felt an emptiness, a lack, as if a part of himself was missing.
Butitwasalsotruewithhisdad.Assoonashecould,hewouldsettledownwithhimonthecouch, sharingmomentsofcalm,listeningattentivelytothestorieshetoldhim.He lovedthosemomentswheneverythingseemedtostop,asiftheoutsideworldnolongerexisted.His dadbecamehisrefugejustasmuchashismom. Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader
Whenhewokeupinthemorning,itwasalwayshismomordadhewantedtoseefirst. Otherfamilymembers,friends,couldnotreplacethisconnection.Forhim, momanddadweretheguaranteeofeverythingthatwasgoodandsafeintheworld.
Butsometimes,thisbondcouldbesointensethatthechildhaddifficultydetachingfromit.Hedidn'twant tobeseparatedfromhisparents,evenforafewhours.Ifhismomwentouttodosome shopping,hewouldstaythere,sad,notunderstandingwhyhehadtobeleftalone,evenfora moment.Heknewthathisparentslovedhimdeeply,butheoftenfeltasifhe neededtheirattentionconstantlytofeelcomplete.
Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader_
Whenhegotangryordidsomethingsilly,hisreactionwasimmediate.Ifhismomordad gavehimasternlook,hewouldburstintotears,asiftheemotionalconnectionhe sharedwiththemwastheonlythingthatreallymatteredinhislife.Hefeltlost withoutthem,withoutthatconstantreassuringpresence.
Themomentswhenhefeltthathisparentswereclosetohim,thattheywerelisteningtohim,thattheywere thereateverymoment,werethemomentswhenhefeltthehappiest.Andsometimes,whenhe wasangry,whenhewasscaredorneededcomfort,hewouldtakerefugeintheir armsasifthatwasallthatmattered.Everythingelsebecamesecondary. Geznah.S |TheSilenceReader_
6.The
JealousChild
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
•Description:
Thejealouschildwantstobethecenterofattention.Hestrugglestosharelove,compliments,or evenobjects.Assoonashefeelsthatsomeoneelseisreceivingwhathedesires,hereactsstrongly. Hisjealousycomesfromaninnerfearofnotbeinglovedenoughorlosinghisspecialplace intheheartsofothers.
•Acts:
•Watch what others receive
•Seeks to regain attention
•May belittle or imitate others to attract attention
•Reacts strongly to comparisons
•Reacts:
•Calmsdownwhenhefeelspersonallyvalued
•Needsspecialmomentstoreassurehimself
•Withdrawsorsulksifhefeelsignored
•Psychology:
•Fearsthelossofloveorrecognition
•Strongneedtoexistintheeyesofimportantfigures
•Hyper-sensitivetodifferencesintreatment
Story: The child who wanted to be the only one
(The jealous child)
Once upon a time, there was a child named Naël.
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Naël had a big heart, but also a great fear: that of no longer being the favorite. When his parents praised his brother, he looked down. When his sister received a gift, he clenched his fists. He did not understand why he had to share what he believed was only his: love.
One day, his parents gave a bike to his sister for her birthday.
Naël smiled in front of everyone. But deep down, something was tightening very strongly. He did not want the bike. No. He wanted... to be thought of too.
So, he started doing a thousand silly things to attract attention: climbing on furniture, shouting louder than others, louder than others, pretending to fall.
Sometimes he succeeded. They looked at him, worried, and took him in their arms. And at that moment, he felt again that he existed.
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
But one evening, his mother knelt down in front of him. She did not shout. She did not scold. She said softly:
"You know, my heart, loving your sister does not mean I love you less. Love is not a cake that we cut into pieces. It is a light that grows when we share it."
Naëlremainedsilent.
Noonehadeverexplainedittohimlikethat. Andthatevening,hefeltsomethingchange,softly,inhisheart. Heunderstoodthathecouldbeloved…evenwhenothersweretoo. Andthatinlove,noonetakesanyoneelse'splace.
7.TheAnxiousChild
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
•Description:
Theanxiouschildisoftenoverwhelmedbyirrationalorexaggeratedfears.Heeasilyimagines easilynegativescenariosandalwaysanticipateswhatcouldgowrong.Heseekssecurity, reassurance,andavoidsanythingthatseemsnew,risky,oruncertain.Evensmall separationsorsmallchangescanbecomegreatsourcesofanxiety forhim. _Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader_
•Acts:
•Hesitatesbeforeacting
•Seeksapprovalfromadults
•Asksalotofreassuringquestions("Whatif…?"
•Clingstohishabitsandroutines
•Reacts:
•Withdrawsorcriesifsomethingstresseshim
•Calmsdownifexplainedgentlyandreassured
•Needstimetoadapttoanewsituation
•Ismorerelaxedwhenhefeelshehascontrolorisunderstood
•Psychology:
Theanxiouschildhasagreatimagination,butitisoftendirectedtowardsfears.Heneeds tofeelthatheissafeandthathispaceisrespectedtoreassurehimwithout rushinghim.
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Story: The Child Who Was Afraid to Try (The Anxious Child)
Atschool,Séliowastheonewhoalwaysturnedinhishomeworklast.Notbecausehewasn't capable,no...Butbecausehewantedtocheckeverything,correcteverything,startoverifnecessary.
_Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader_
Theotherchildrensometimeslaughed: "You'reexaggerating,Sélio,it'snotabigdealifit'snotperfect!"
Butforhim,itwasserious.Veryserious.
Athome,hisparentssometimeslookedathimwithtenderness,sometimeswithconcern. Hismomtriedtotellhim:
"Whatmattersisnotthatitisperfect.It'sthatyougaveyourheart."
ButSéliocouldn'tconvincehimselfofthat.
Oneday,heenteredadrawingcontest.
Hespentdaysperfectinghiswork. Heerased,startedover,erasedagain.
Thedaybeforethecontest...hetorehisdrawingapartwhilesobbing: "It'snotgoodenough!I'museless!"
_Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader_
Hismomcamegently,withoutspeaking.
Shesatnexttohim.
Shepickedupthetornpiecesandsaid: "Youknow...forme,thisdrawingwasbeautiful.Notbecauseitwasperfect.Butbecauseit hadyourenergyinit.Yourtrueself."
Sélioremainedsilent.Noonehadevertoldhimthatlikethat.
_Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader_
Thenextday,hepresentedanewdrawing,lessperfectthantheothertimes,butfreer, morealive.
And,eventhoughhedidn'twinthecontest,forthefirsttime,hesmiledwhilelookingathiswork. Becausehehadunderstoodonething: Itisnotperfectionthatmakeswhatwedobeautiful. Itistheloveweputintoit.
9.TheClownChild
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Description:
Theclownchildlovestoattracttheattentionofothersbymakingjokes,makingfaces,and exaggeratedgestures.Heseekstomakepeoplelaughandentertain,oftentoescapesituationswherehe mightfeelvulnerableorsad.Heuseshumortomakehimselfinterestingandgain theaffectionofothers.
Acts:
•Makes jokes to make people laugh
•Constantly seeks to be the center of attention
•Makes faces or exaggerated gestures
•Uses humor to hide his emotions
Reacts:
•Happy when others laugh or react positively
•Feels rejected or sad when he is ignored or when his jokes do not make people laugh
•Hides his true emotions behind humor
•May become louder or more insistent if he feels he is not getting the attention he desires _Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader_
Psychology:
Theclownchildoftenseekstobeacceptedandlovedbyothers,butheuseshumor tomaskfeelingsofinsecurity.Hisneedforvalidationisstrong,andhemayhavedifficulty expressinghisemotionssincerely,preferringtomaskhisvulnerabilitieswithlaughterand exaggeratedbehaviors.Thisattitudeisoftenadefensemechanismtoprotecthimself fromcriticismorrejection. _Geznah.S|TheSilenceReader_
Story:TheChildWhoHidHisHeartBehindLaughter
(The clown child)
Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Malo.
Malo was the child who made everyone laugh. At school, he imitated the teachers, invented funny stories and made incredible faces. At home, he danced like crazy, told jokes at the table, and made even tired adults laugh.
Everyone loved Malo.
"With him, it's always a party!" his classmates said. But what no one saw was that behind his big smile, Malo often hid his sorrows. Geznah.S | The Silence Reader
When he was afraid of failing a test, he made a joke.
•Calms down when clear and consistent limits are set.
•Calms down when he feels sincerely listened to, without needing to manipulate.
•Can show anger or sadness when he feels he is losing control. _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
• Psychology:
The manipulative child is not "bad": he uses manipulation as an attempt to secure himself, to be loved, or to feel he exists. He needs to be taught, with kindness, that his needs are legitimate, but that there are honest and respectful ways to express. _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
The story: very clever
(The manipulative child )
Elvyn was a little boy with a vivid imagination. When he wanted something, he knew exactly how to go about it. If he wanted an ice cream, he would make sad eyes, as if he had just lost his best friend. If he wanted to stay up later, he would softly say: "But mom, if you really loved me, you would let me stay up a little longer..." _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
The adults around him often let themselves be softened. One day, he asked his grandmother: "Grandma, can you give me some chocolate?" When she kindly refused, he replied: "Okay... But it’s okay if you love me less than the others..." The grandmother's heart tightened, and of course... she gave in.
Elvyn was not bad. Deep down, he was just afraid of being told no, afraid of losing the love he was given. So he used tricks, not even always realizing it. _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
But one day, his dad knelt down to his level and said to him: "Elvyn, you don’t need to pretend to be sad or hurt for us to love you. We love you already, even when we say no."
That day, Elvyn did not respond right away. He looked at his dad, a bit surprised.
that Liam had difficulty facing the truth, even about small things.
One day, after a big lie at school, his parents were called in. Seeing the sadness on their faces, Liam felt true guilt for the first time.
_Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
His parents chose not to punish him harshly.
On the contrary, they took the time to calmly explain to him the difference between imagining and lying. They told him that inventing was a valuable quality, but it should be used at the right moment, like when writing stories or acting in a play. Every evening, they suggested a game: to invent a story together, but always specify "it's a story", so as not to confuse it with reality. _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Little by little, Liam understood that he didn't need to lie to be interesting or loved. He began to write his own tales in a special notebook that his parents had given him, with colorful drawings and magical worlds.
Thanks to their patience and gentleness, Liam transformed: he became a creative and sincere boy, proud to use his imagination… while telling the truth. _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Conclusion: Childhood, the Foundation of Our Identity
_Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Through these stories, we explored the different faces of children, each with their particularities and unique needs. It is these traits, sometimes intense and sometimes subtle, that gradually shape their personality. But it is important to remember that it is during childhood that the foundations of the adult we will become are built.
_Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Childhood is a crucial period in the formation of our identity. The experiences experienced, the interactions with others, the emotions felt, and the ways we react to life's challenges deeply mark our development. These character traits that we see manifesting in our children, whether related to sensitivity, character that we see manifesting in our children, whether related to sensitivity, will, or attachment, are the first stones of the edifice of the adult that the child will become. _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Childhood, That Shapes Us
Childhood, Which Shapes Us
Often, what develops during childhood accompanies us throughout our lives. Our fears, our habits, our passions, our reactions to challenges, are often echoes of our childhood. Sometimes, a character trait taken lightly can manifest later in our lives in a more complex way. That’s why it is so important to support children with kindness, understanding, and patience. _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Children are beings in constant evolution. Their childhood shapes not only their way of interacting with the world, but also how they will see and define themselves as adults. adult. That’s why every gesture, every word, every moment spent understanding and supporting a child is crucial. It influences their journey and their identity.
_Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
*Parents and Educators
Dear parents, educators, and caregivers, you play a fundamental role in the development of these children. Childhood is a time when solid foundations are formed for their future, and you are there to guide, support, and help each child thrive in a environment of love and respect. What you pass on to them today, whether through acts of tenderness, discipline, or listening, will be in them forever, like an indelible imprint.
Never forget that today’s moments become the foundations of tomorrow. The love and support you offer to children during their childhood will accompany them throughout their lives. Allowing them to understand, accept, and develop their character traits, by guiding them gently and respectfully, is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give. _Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_
Thank you!
Thank you for your investment and dedication to the education and well-being of children. You are the ones who shape the adults of tomorrow. Through every effort, you offer these children the opportunity to become confident, balanced, and comfortable adults. Your work is invaluable and your efforts create an impact that will last throughout their lives.
Geznah.S | The Silence Reader_