The other day I met with a 14 year old girl in high school who said that if she knew she had to give a book report on a certain day, she wouldn't go to school. Is your child shy? Do you wish they weren't shy?
If so, think about the following benefits of being an introvert:
10) Work Well With Others, Especially in One-to-One
Relationships
9) Maintain Long-Term Friendships
8) Flexible
7) Independent
6) Strong Ability to Concentrate
5) Self-Reflective
4) Responsible
3) Creative, Out of the Box Thinking
2) Analytical Skills That Integrate Complexity
1) Studious and Smart
Is your child an
introvert? Our job is not to change
them; our job is to understand them and... help them understand themselves. Take a
look at the Quickie Quiz below found in the book, The Introvert Advantage (available here in pdf). Also read the chapter on parenting an introvert. The whole outline of the chapter on parenting is below.
Look over the list of
key qualities below. Which list feels more like you, or is more like you most
of the time? (Not every characteristic on a list will fit.) Answer as you are,
not as you would like to be. Go with your first impression.
Qualities A
- Like to be in the thick of
things
- Relish variety, bored with
sameness
- Know lots of people,
consider them friends
- Enjoy chitchatting, even
with strangers
- Feel stoked after
activity, eager for more
- Speak or act without
needing to think first
- Are generally quite peppy
- Tend to talk
more than listen
Qualities B
- Prefer to relax alone or
with a few close friends
- Consider only deep
relationships as friends
- Need rest after outside
activities, even ones you enjoy
- Often listen but talk a
lot about topics of importance to you
- Appear calm,
self-contained, and like to observe
- Tend to think
before you speak or act
- Experience
mind going blank in groups or under pressure
- Don’t like feeling rushed
Here is the outline of the chapter on parenting:
CHAPTER V -
Parenting: Are They Up from Their Nap Already?
· Is Your Child an “Innie” or an “Outie”?
· Understanding Your “Innie” Child
· Provide a Private Space
· Allow Time to Reflect
· If You’re an Extroverted Parent with an Introverted
Child
· Understanding Your “Outie” Child
· If You’re an Introverted Parent with an Extroverted
Child
· The Team Approach: Talking to Your Child about
Introversion
· Gifted and Talented Children
· Parent Power
SHARING IS CARING
