Helping introverted children adjust to school

Babyment

How to help your introverted child acclimate to school.

First off, what is an introvert? An introvert prefers being alone and derives energy from being a lone wolf. Introverts will tire quickly when socializing and often do not display much interest in social interactions. Thus, school may not seem like an ideal place for introverts to prosper in, with most children’s primary entertainment originating from playing and talking with one another. Nonetheless, this does not mean that parents must remake their children into extroverts as there are advantages to being an introvert as well. Studies have shown that introverts make less rash decisions and are generally less impulsive. This helps them in avoiding unnecessary risks. Introverts also appear to be more creative than their extroverted peers and thus excel at academics. Although, it is completely fine to accept the reality of your child being an introvert, it does not mean that parents shouldn’t help them to expand their comfort zone.

School is a crucial part of every individual’s life as it is the place and time where we learn to develop fundamental skills by interacting with other humans and learning new skills and acquiring new knowledge from our teachers. While introverts will likely excel at listening and application, they may struggle at maintaining conversations, initiating interactions and cooperating with other children. Thus, it is the parents’ responsibility to assist their introverted children at succeeding in their endeavors at school.

How to help your introverted child?

Encourage them to talk more about their emotions. Talking to them on a daily basis and slowly coaxing them into talking more will help them to slowly open up. Ideally, you can use toys, cards and any other materials you can think of to allow them to speak through a ‘medium’. This can help them to express their feelings easier. Alternatively, asking them to write down their feelings is also a viable option if they are extremely insistent on being quiet at the beginning.

Teaching introverted children, the importance of seeking help. As introverts prefer not to communicate with others and seek help, they might have the tendency to internalize problems and address them on their own. As a result, they might not decide to confide their problems in you or their teachers. Henceforth, it is our responsibility to consistently inquire if they have anything they wish to get off your chest. Be sure to not inquire in an interrogatory manner and above all else, be gentle and accommodating.

Practicing is also a highly beneficial method for the child to attempt getting out of his/her comfort zone. For starters, parents could start with small tasks such as instructing an introverted child to interact with strangers more consistently through ordering their own food, asking for directions. Practicing these actions with your children through simulations is also highly encouraged at the beginning of a new school year. This will help to prepare them for the upcoming school terms.

Avoid calling introverted children ‘shy’. This is because ‘shy’ is a word that carries negative connotations. If children realize that they are constantly associated with being ‘shy’, they will be led to worry if their inability to socialize well is actually a mental disorder they are suffering from. This may result in them feeling as if they are unable to control their social awkwardness, thus worsening their confidence in their ability to socialize with others.

Last but not least, parents should cooperate with teachers to find out more about their child’s behavior and temperament outside of home. Sometimes, our children are significantly more comfortable with their parents and their behavior at home might be oriented towards being extroverted while in reality, they are introverts in school. Next, parents should assist the teachers in finding peaceful and quiet areas that they can designate as ‘safe havens’ for the introverted children. These areas may include isolated library reading rooms, empty classrooms or staff offices even. Having access to such isolated and peaceful areas allow introverted children to rest and reflect on events occurring throughout the day. Moreover, if introverted children require respite from their extroverted peers and the noisy nature of the school, they could always seek a timeout in these safe havens.