PA R E N T I N G
Ways to parent an
introvert child
A
ccording to child therapist, it is extremely necessary for parents to ensure that their children voice
out their thoughts and opinions from a young age.
She says, "Even though schools do encourage children
to speak up in class and let their teachers know what
they think, I believe parents should also do the same
at home. It is only when they start talking and expressing their concerns will they become confident in life."
However, if your child is shy or feels intimidated by the
thought of opening up, here are a few ways you can
make the process easy for him/her.
Know there is nothing unusual about being
an introvert
There are many children who find it extremely difficult to
open up not only to their teachers and friends at school
but also to their parents. And there is absolutely nothing
wrong with that. As a parent, the least you can do is understand what your child is trying to communicate with
you without speaking much.
Introduce your child to new people and surroundings gradually
Do not rush into anything. Take your time to acclimatise
your child to new situations and people. Make sure that
you even communicate this with those who are meeting your kid for the first time. You don't want your child
growing up feeling awkward and hesitant while meeting
others.
Help your child cultivate his/her passion
The only way a child can start socialising is when he/
she moves out of the four walls of the house and makes
new friends. This can either happen in school or in hobby classes. Make sure that your child is participating in
extra-curricular activities and takes up a hobby. Apart
from keeping your child busy through the day, it will also
ensure that he/she is mixing around with other kids in
the class.
Point out when they starts enjoying what
they were initially scared of
To make sure that your child feels confident about himself/herself, point out whenever he/she starts doing
something that they were previously scared of. This
could be anything — from starting a conversation with a
neighbour to playing outdoors with friends.
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