The Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child »

Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D., is a researcher, educator, author, and psychotherapist. One of America’s foremost authorities on introversion, she speaks and leads workshops on the topic in the United States and Canada. She and her extroverted husband have two grown daughters and four grandchildren. They live in Portland, Oregon.

Do you have a child who hangs back at birthday parties? Who dreads being called on in class? Who hugs the sidelines, and who surprises you by seeming withdrawn or aloof in public but turns into a chatterbox at home?

The plight of the introverted child is to be often misunderstood. Parents, siblings, classmates, teacher, and—most devastatingly—the child himself feel that there's something wrong with him. With The Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child, Dr. Marti Olsen Laney brings wisdom and science together to provide parents with an essential guide to raising a successful, well-adjusted innie. It covers the hard-wired introvert temperament; introvert-extrovert family dynamics; navigating school, sports, and social life; and especilly, how to draw out your introvert's hidden gifts, which may include a love of learning, empathy, creativity, and flexibility—virtues easily lost in the bluster of an extroverted world.

Library Journal

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 2005 Reed Business Information.

Chapter One: Was an Introverted Child Dropped Down Your Chimney—What Introversion is, and What it Isn't

Chapter Two: Innies and Outies are Hardwired—Brain Physiology Creates Introverted and Extroverted Temperaments

Chapter Three: Introverts' Advantages in an Extroverted World—Learn to Highlight Your Child's Hidden Gifts

Chapter Four: Building Emotional Resilience—Establishing Strong Bonds with Your Child Will Provide Him a Secure Foundation

Chapter Five: The Care and Feeding of Innies —Predictable Routines Energize Innies So They Can Flourish

Chapter Six: Play, Conversation, and the Art of Relaxation—Encourage Daily Chats, Creative Play, Decision-Making Steps, and Stress-Busting Skills

Chapter Seven: The Family Temperament Tango—Increase Family Harmony by Validating and Appreciating Each Member's Footwork

Chapter Eight: Improving Sibling Relationships—Encourage Understanding, Establish Boundaries, and Dampen Rivalry

Chapter Nine: Extending the Family Tree—Cultivate Close Relationships with Grandparents, Other Family Members, Friends, and Caregivers

Chapter Ten: Innies in the Classroom—When You Know How Innies Learn Best, You Can Help Them Navigae the School Years

Chapter Eleven: Support Your Introvert at School and on the Playing Field—Lend a Helping Hand with Teachers, Studying, Homework, Preparing for College, and the Sports Scene

Chapter Twelve: Innie Social Savvy—What Friendship Means to Innies and What to Expect as They Travel Through Childhood

Chapter Thirteen: Encouraging Your Introvert to Flex His Social Muscles—Practice Helps Strengthen Poise and Confidence, Even in Sticky Situations

Chapter Fourteen: Thorny Social Patches—Help Your Innie Manage Conflict, Bullies, and Other Challenges