Knowing Your Introverted ChildWritten by Nancy R. Fenn
I'm IntrovertZCoach and my mission in life is to make sure that no introverted child today has to go through what my clients did who grew up in a time when people didn't understand introversion as a legitimate personality type. I hope you know by now that there's nothing wrong with introverts. Let me explain. I took a cruise last summer on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of Seas. I was enrichment speaker. A woman attended my lecture who had two teenaged children. I had seen her teens on "quiet deck" reading books. In fact, they were my constant companions during first days of cruise. I, too, spent most of day reading on quiet deck. That’s because I'm an introvert and that's my idea of a cruise. This mother complained that her kids weren’t “mixing”. They attended teen sessions on top deck for about 20 minutes and never went back. "Oh, I bet," I laughed. "They're totally introverts." Much to my surprise, she acted insulted and became defensive. Her kids weren't "introverts", they had been raised in another country and they just didn't make friends easily. If this woman would have been open, I could have told her so many things about her children and what was so "right" about their behavior. But she had a negative definition of introversion and became so defensive, I changed subject. The sad truth is that introverts have been stuck with a self concept defined by 70% majority extroverts who think there is something wrong with them. Introverts are not anti-social and they are not mentally ill. Far from it. Introverts enjoy company of others and are often exceptionally loving, especially those who are also intuitive, feeling and perceptive (iNfp's according to Myers-Briggs© personality types, called The Healer). If you would like more information about eight different types of introverts, please visit http://www.advisorteam.com emperament_sorter/about/
| | Recommended Book List for Introverted Children to Understand Themselves BetterWritten by Nancy F. Fenn
11 Books Your Introverted Child Will Just Love that also Prepare Him or Her for Real LIfeAnne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery Comments: Your introverted girl will identify with Anne's vivid imagination and insightful nature. Grades 5-7. This was my introverted niece Alison's favorite book when she was 7. The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen Comments: A classic comfort for introverted children who just don't seem to "fit in" until later. Ages 3-9. Hans Christian Andersen was himself an introvert and he understands territory. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Comments: The quintessential experience of introverted child is "loving things alive". This book gives great emotional support to introverted child's natural experience of reality. Evan's Corner by Elizabeth Starr Hill Comments: Evan is kind of boy who takes pleasure in his special possessions, who likes to be lonely from time to time and who enjoys peace and quiet. This book gives introverted children ages 4-8 a good sense of self and a positive self image. The Man Who Lived Alone by Donald Hall Comments: This is a story about a man who lives alone and enjoys it. Solitude is one of greatest pleasures of introvert. One reviewer, undoubtedly an extrovert, remarks "Nothing much happens here but there is a deep tranquility." Your introverted child knows what this means. Ages 7-10. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Comments: Every introverted child will identify as Jess and Leslie create a secret kingdom in woods called Terabithia, which they rule as king and queen. A sad ending teaches children about real life difficulties of bridging inner and outer worlds. This knowledge will be good preparation for life as an introvert. Roughly 5th grade.
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