Uncomfortable situations are scary for everyone, but they’re especially scary for children, who don’t have much control over the situations they’re put in.
Parents or caretakers who want their kid to act a certain way in social situations often make these these situations even worse. This is particularly challenging for introverted kids, who are known to need alone time more than their extroverted counterparts.
Not all introverts are quiet, and not all extroverts are gregarious, therapists say, which can make it tough to tell just where your child falls. But there are a few signs you can look out for.
“The classic extroversion-introversion distinction is that an introvert would be filled up by spending time alone recharging, rather than with people,” said Kate Roberts, a therapist at Self Space Therapy in Washington.
Introverted children may become very tired and drained after social events, may opt to spend time alone or with one close friend instead of a group, probably don’t like being the center of attention and may take more time to warm up to people, said therapist Rachel Wolff, the owner of Flow Wellness in Philadelphia.
