How to deal with introvert child

How to deal with introvert child

Well, the best thing is there is no ‘’ dealing with’’ part here… only, you will have to practice your diplomatic approach a bit and respect their boundaries. You need to learn to understand their silence…also when they silently ask for your help. You need to learn to listen, but not just words… but a symphony of their little souls’ chords resonating. If you are an introverted parent as I am – getting a mini-me was a dream coming true. My wife Lydia and I were head over heels when Jack decided to come to our lives and grow in the ways we never imagined. Lydia has had to learn how to learn to interact with her introvert child, we will share some of our experiences with you. 

People would often describe Jack as a shy boy who enjoys playing by himself in the corner. His imagination was highly developed even at an early age. We always enjoyed listening to him playing, talking, drawing, and describing the worlds existing only in his head. 

That is how I only get a glimpse of an expanded universe existing in his little head. For everyone, their child is special, but I can see a future fantasy writer lurking. Introvert kids always grow up to be exciting and extraordinary individuals. 

The artist that loves to enjoy his art…only by himself

If I ask Jack to describe his drawings, he would often become embarrassed, and you can see adorable redness to his cheeks. So that is when I step back, I just don’t want for him to feel uncomfortable.

Lydia, on the other hand, is a prime example of extroverts. She is loud, her laugh is simply hilarious, and it makes you laugh also. Lydia loves Jack dearly, and I know she thinks that being shy and introverted is the same thing and that Jack will eventually overcome his shyness. 

She would often show his drawings to people because she was proud of her little artist. In these moments, I saw that Jack was acting nervous, sometimes scared.

As an introvert myself, I know that introversion often comes with amazing sets of other bonuses. Extraordinary creativity, perfectionism, orientation to details, and the most essential thing – introverts are incredibly passionate about whatever they do. 

Do not start about their passion and interests with them unless they start first. That means that you respect their privacy and leave their little bubble alone. Introverts are highly individualistic. If they sense that they can trust you, they may start talking about their interests spontaneously, and you would be surprised with that shine in their eyes and how detailed they are in their descriptions. 

When they decide to open, assist them in exploring more about the topic. For example, if your child wants to know more about dinosaurs, mysteries of ancient Egypt, or how machines work, that is an excellent chance for some quality bonding time. 

You will also get a chance to know your kid better, set foundations for further development, and maybe learn something new. Thanks to Jack, both me and Lydia know everything about great white sharks. 

Child playing alone
Image by Juanita Mulder from Pixabay

Your child could be an introverted and highly sensitive person as well.

This is where things can get even more complicated, but it often goes hand in hand. But it is not a bad thing; you will need to be more flexible with your introvert child to make them feel comfortable.

If your child is extremely perceptive, social interaction may make your child more tired, they need to have their alone time, and they get irritated with things other kids don’t notice – it is maybe a sign of a more sensitive nervous system. A high sensitive person has about a 50% more sensitive nervous system from an average person.

What can you do if you have this combination? We talked about respecting their boundaries and let them take the lead when it comes to sharing the interests, but what is also important?

Make them feel comfortable and protected.

Jack is extremely sensitive to outside stimuli such as noise, and he likes to stay in his room rather than play outside. It is his little fortress of wonders, and all his toys and books are there. Our apartment is located in a bustling street, so we needed to improve the design. To make sure that he is protected from noise pollution, we installed acoustic panels

That hasn’t changed the room design, and it didn’t bother him. 

Jack doesn’t want to be exposed to surprising and new situations. Lydia loves to be spontaneous and throw surprises, but it is not his cup of tea. Instead, we needed to find a middle ground. We need to have a talk with him about his feelings before we expose him to something new

Have in mind that your introverted child will never tell you what is bothering them, so learn to read their reactions.

Also, don’t make your introverted kid more social with other kids on a playground. Other kids are maybe louder and harsher… and they don’t have filters for what they say or how they behave. 

Someone may say or do something you can perceive as benign, and then you can be surprised to see that your kid has mentioned that a few days ago. A small thing can produce an echo that will resonate for a long time and leave a mark on further interaction because it has left a bitter taste.

They are incredibly emotional also. If you notice a tear in their eyes while watching the emotional scene in a movie – offer them support and talk about it. The worst thing is that you teach your kid that boys don’t cry, which is a sign of weakness. Oh, they do cry, and it is completely fine.

A well-balanced diet and a healthy sleeping schedule for your introvert child

Your kid must have a balanced diet and snacks. Avoid the foods rich in sugars – it will raise their blood sugar levels, and they might feel more anxious. Instead, establish a steady diet routine with three balanced meals and the two snacks.

It is also important for your introvert child to get enough sleep. Social interactions tend to make them even more tired since their introvert spidey sense is always alerted. They notice emotions better, and they often lose their interest when people are not talking about what they like.

Talk with their teachers and other parents. Being introverted and sensitive is not a disease or something like that, but it will maybe help them understand your kid’s functioning mechanisms. 

You have an extraordinary kid growing before your eyes, and raising an introvert is a fun journey.