The present study investigated hypotheses predicting that individual temperament dimensions are related to the extent to which children engage cognitive resources in a novel, fear-inducing context. Results show that higher mother-reported child Surgency is associated with children’s higher levels of cognitive engagement. Negative Affectivity is not related to cognitive engagement and is inversely correlated with children’s average fear intensity. Effortful Control is generally not associated with cognitive engagement but is inversely related in one segment.