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iQuestions Faculty, Dr. John Trent 
 
 
Question: 
 
My child has a "lion" personality. How do I deal with this type of strong 
personality without losing my mind? 
 
Answer: 
 
You know, we’ve got a Lion child, and when you’ve got a Lion kid, 
they’re the ones that have that kind of personality that just takes 
charge—charge up the hill. 
 
One way you can tell if they’re a Lion child is, let’s say they’re five or 
six years old, just invite a friend over. The doorbell rings, and they’ll 
run to the door, grab their friend and say, “OK, great to have you here 
now! We’re late! So let’s get moving right now.” So they just take 
over. They’ll take over the classroom. Wait until you go to school, the 
teacher will tell you, “You know, she lets me stay in the class, but 
she’s in charge” or “he’s in charge.” 
 
So when you have that Lion child, realize that’s part of how God 
created them. I mean, they are designed to just, you know, move up 
the hill and charge ahead. 
 
But a couple of quick tips. Number one is, don’t think that they are 
trying, purposefully, to strain you out. I mean, it just comes naturally. 
That’s because they are so engaging that for the average Lion, they 
get energy arguing with you. 
 
Now, you might think, you know, “How is that the case?” because you 
might walk away all disheveled. But they’re going, “That was a good 
one!” you know, when they get through talking. 
 
 
 
But don’t let them just focus on that negative. What Lions are great at 
is “what you see is what you get.” When you have a Lion child, they 
are able to communicate to you right up front, “Am I happy or am I 
sad?” Some of the other kids don’t do that. 
 
Another thing that is really important with Lion kids is realize that they 
do need to learn some sensitivity, particularly with some of the other 
kids. So, help them see how they can do that.  
 
For example, our daughter the Lion, Carrie, is a great kid, but 
sometimes she would be roaring at her sister. So what we did when 
she was young is we got a clear, plastic, microwave-safe glass, and we 
filled it up with water. And I had her take that glass and put it in the 
microwave and punch in the buttons to three minutes. Well, after 
about two minutes in a microwave, water starts to boil. You can tell 
that because there are bubbles.  
 
So have the kid look in there. And so here’s Carrie, and I go, “Carrie, 
do you see those bubbles? Now push the pause button.” And she 
pushes the pause button—and this only works in a microwave.  It 
doesn’t work on a stove. But when you push the pause button, boom, 
instantly the bubbles will stop.  
 
She goes, “Oh, that’s cool!”  
 
I go, “Push start.” The bubbles start. “Push pause.” They stop. 
 
I said, “You know what, sweetheart? You know sometimes when you 
get all upset, and you start roaring at your sister, and those bubbles 
come up? We need to talk about how you can press that pause button 
so that you are not roaring at your sister.” 
 
 
 
A nice way to deal with a Lion is to help them really see what it is that 
they are doing. Give them a picture of it.  
 
So, appreciate them, encourage them. They are awesome kids, if you 
have got a Lion child. 
 
 
 
 
 
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