The amount of patience required to handle an extrovert is, I don’t even think there is a scale for that. Especially, when you yourself are a peaceful, calm, and alone-time loving introvert, extroverts can become quite a handful (well, that is one way to put it). It can be very overwhelming and daunting to nurture extroverts when you have never been one yourself.
When your personality and your child’s personality are completely opposite to each other, it becomes tough to understand each other. However, when you put in a little extra effort, nothing is unachievable. We have some guidelines for you that will greatly help you in parenting your extroverted kid.
Be comfortable with yourself.
Coexisting even when we are poles apart is possible. We do not have to become like our children just to have a happy home. We do not have to change ourselves. Our uniqueness is just as valuable as our child’s.
Now, most of the parents in the same situation as you think that they are holding back their kids because of their nature. But, that is not true. No one can love them or care for them like you.
However, if you are constantly distressed and not at peace with yourself because of your conflicting natures, you are going to create a lot of negativity in the house. Your personality is not damaging for your child, but your denial to accept the status quo is what will prove to be a problem for your child.
Accept who you are the way you are. It is going to be a key in your child being okay with who they are. Children follow in our footsteps. If we are content, they will be. And, if we are dissatisfied, they will be too. Instead of thinking about what you cannot do for your child, think about what you can do for them, and how you can use your nature to nurture them.
Be comfortable with who they are.
A lot of parents find it daunting to do something that they have never experienced their whole life. They are scared that they might take the wrong step and harm their child’s future. And, in order to secure their child’s future, they try to turn them into something that they are familiar with. In short, they try to change their extrovert kids to something similar to their nature.
However, we all know that that is not how it works. We cannot reprogram someone like this. And if we try it, we are going to end up with unfavorable results. You have to be receptive to their nature and the perks and cons that come with it.
If you try and keep only the things that you find useful, and try to remove the remaining part, you will end up messing with their entire personality. Accept them as they are with all their vices and virtues. It will be very beneficial for your child. When they are comfortable with themselves, because you set the precedence for it, they will be able to realize their true potential.
If you want to learn more Register for our Happy Parenting Masterclass: Register Now
Do activities together.
When there is a huge difference between two people, making the connection with that person becomes twice as hard. Moreover, for your relationship with your kids to flourish, you need to have a connection. And how would we achieve that? By having fun with them.
Spend some quality time with your children. Plan fun activities together and enjoy together. Sometimes, you can do the activities that they like so that you can get a better insight into their lives and it will become a tad bit easier to understand them.
It is not necessary that you only do what your children like, sometimes you can also do what you like. It will help your children in understanding you and looking at you like a friend, more than a parent. This way, it will be fun for both of you. Remember that when you are with a child, you should become a child yourself. No gap should be visible between you.
Let them explore new opportunities.
Extroverts thrive when they are trying out new experiences. They are more themselves when they are doing a lot of things that excite them. So, when your child is an extrovert, don’t limit their exposure.
We should let our children find their own way in the world, and the way extroverts do it is by trying out a million things. Now, your trepidation of letting them try out different things is also understandable. But, what we need to understand is that we cannot let our fear get the best of us, and make you stop them from being their best version.
It is alright if they falter sometimes. But, that is just a part of life. The earth will not collapse into rubble should they make a mistake. That is how they are going to learn, and I don’t think we should deny our kids this opportunity.
Don’t force them to be confined to one thing.
It is not in an extrovert’s nature to sit at one place and force them to do something, like studying perhaps. Extroverts may lack the focus and concentration to hone in on something for a long time. But they compensate it with their other ten different qualities.
If we try to make our children do something that is opposite to their nature, it hampers their growth. Moreover, they cannot even do what they are good at. So, let your kids focus on the skills they have, rather than introducing something totally conflicting.
A word of caution.
Extroverts are at risk of becoming overconfident. When they have many qualities, it is highly possible that they may let it go to their head. They may become boisterous, and egotistical. Your job is to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
We have to keep checking that our children do not cross the line between confidence and overconfidence. Because, when they have the latter, they are just making a huge pit for them to fall in some time or other. They need to be in check of exactly what they can and cannot do.