Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child

The Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child: Helping Your Child Thrive in an Extroverted WorldA FB friend posted the Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World by the same author, but it is not available in Nook so I got this one instead.

I am an introvert (innie) and reading this book makes me understand myself and others including the outies more.  I hope that teachers, parents and anybody who look after kids will have access to this book.  It makes us realize that not everybody can fit into a mold. 

Our innie and outie temperaments are hardwired into our system and nobody can change one into the other.   But we can learn to understand the why and how to deal with each other.  The first few chapters explain the different chemical pathways and physiology that make up both innie and outie. The rest will help you understand and deal with both types of temperaments. 

An innie will learn how to develop their extroverting muscle while an outie will learn to take a breather and slow down.  Innies are not necessarily shy.  But their energy drains in loud, crowded environments.  While outies are charge up when put in the same situation. Innies can teach outies to calm down and smell the flowers. While an outie can help an innie to get out there. 

Innies need downtime to get recharged.  While outies (extroverts) thrive in this zoom -zoom fast pace world.  Although there are lots of innies who have achieved high positions, they refuse to be on the spotlight.  While outies need and want the spotlight.  They get energized by being out there, talking and doing. Innies can freeze when put on the spot.  Sometimes innies are diagnose to have ADD because they don't show interest.  While outies are sometimes  diagnose to have ADHD because of their need to be constantly moving and talking.  An outie will be bored and edgy in a quiet room.   While an innie will be completely satisfied and even be energize in a calm atmosphere.  An innie can have meltdowns if you don't give them a chance to recharge.  An outie can burn out if they don't calm down.

Outie parents/grandparents/teachers/caregivers, etc. will learn how to accept and help an innie child flourish.  While  innie parents/grandparents/teachers/caregivers, etc. will learn how to cope with a outie child's constant chatter and need to be moving and be out there.   

Great book for anybody who wants to understand both temperaments. 

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