The Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child

January 15, 2006
Introverts, or -innies, - as psychotherapist Laney ("The Introvert Advantage") calls them, use the brain's front lobe for thinking and more often rely on the right side of the brain than the left. Consequently, innies enjoy in-depth discussions, take longer to make decisions, use their short-term memory less often than extroverts, and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Laney offers parents tips on how to help their innie child of any age succeed socially at school and during family reunions. She tackles myths surrounding introversion and warns against confusing introversion with shyness. Yet even though Laney describes extroversion and introversion as being part of a temperament continuum, the portrait she paints of introverted children sometimes lack nuance (e.g., all innies are calm, intelligent, thoughtful, and disciplined). Also, comments about hiring caregivers without too -thick - an accent so as not to interfere with language development could offend certain communities. Nevertheless, the message that temperament is hardwired at birth and that parents should adapt to their offspring by better understanding them, instead of trying to change them, rings true. Large public libraries can consider." -Maryse Breton, Baldwin P.L., Birmingham, MI"

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.