The Extroverted Idea was said to have arisen from the Western society, mainly from America from which people expect the ideal human being to be generous, outspoken and alpha in all aspect of life. This has been based on the roots whereby the Greeks and Romans valued one who was well versed with speech as opposed to one that preferred to contemplate over issues. From here stemmed the belief that introversion in people is both a disappointment and not favoured in society.
The strange thing about this theory is that for lots of people actually have these preconceptions of the extrovert ideal imparted into them. And with it comes the worry from parents that their kids prefer a few close friends, or rather have a few close friends. Parents may assume something is actually wrong when kids opt to mingle with a select few rather than with the vast majority of people around.
One thing parents should know about this is that there is nothing wrong as per say when it comes to having few friends in school. It doesn’t mean that your child is introverted, although the chances of it are high. But then even if your child is introverted, does it really matter then? The pre-Americanised Asian Culture that can still be found in many developing Asian countries are more inclined towards a culture of reticence and caution, and there is nothing wrong with that too.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a reason as to why your kids are considered extroverts or introverts, then you’d have to realise that it depends on their preferences for different levels of stimulation. There is really nothing wrong with either idea except for the pre-conceived notions developed by society over the years.
Parents should know for one, that there is nothing wrong with having introverted kids. Perhaps your kid prefers to stay alone in his or her bedroom for the majority of their time instead of interacting with your family. Or maybe her teachers at school thinks she ought to talk more. But introversion isn’t a bad thing, just like how there is day and night – introversion is just it.
Don’t feel the need to introduce your children to new people all the time and when you tend to, introduce them slowly. When your child is ready to meet someone new, she’ll do so on her own accord. You’ll also have to tell your child that taking breaks from socialising is alright if she feels overwhelmed. There is nothing worse than sending your child the wrong signals and forcing them to be someone they’re not. Finally, teach your child to stand up for his or herself. Often times, introverted kids don’t stand up for themselves because they’d rather remain quiet. Tell your child that being bullied is not an option and introversion is not an excuse for that. Saying “No” when you are uncomfortable is equally important if you’re an introvert.