If your child is “shy” or “withdrawn”, finding the right engaging activity could be a challenge. You don’t want to trigger stress and anxiety by forcing your kiddo into something uncomfortable, but you also don’t want your mini-you to miss out on experiencing the small joys of childhood.
Introverted children are often misunderstood. Their need for alone, quiet time to recharge is seen as a sign of reclusiveness. Remember that introverts enjoy activities as much as extroverts do. But the activities they tend to engage in are a bit different.
Here is a list of 10 best activities your introverted child will enjoy:
1. Paint the town red
Painting is great for children — it’s fun, stimulating, and relaxing. If you are raising an introvert who doesn’t want to share their emotions or prefer minimal interaction, give them a canvas, paint, and a brush, and watch them go! Drawing and painting give your child the best of both worlds — skill development while allowing room for creative innovation.
2. Practice Photography
Your introverted child might be a big puzzle to you. Handover a camera and you might learn a great deal about your kiddo. Take your child out for a nice walk around the park or the neighborhood, and let the creativity flow. A picture is worth a thousand words, so what’s a better creative outlet for your child of few words.
3. Pets make paw-fect friends
Who doesn’t love pets? Even your solitude-loving child will be thrilled to have a sidekick by the side. Whether it’s a cat, dog, or hamster, your child will love to feed it and care for it, or maybe even have fun conversations with it. For someone who struggles in social situations, but prefers more intimate conversation, pet talk is great.
4. Swim like a fish
A swimming pool is an excellent space for your introverted child as it requires little to no interaction. Not only is swimming a great life skill, but it also helps promote cardiovascular health and improves stamina. Like most introverts, your child might take a little longer to acclimate to a new experience, so make sure you go at your kid’s pace and not be too pushy. Choose a pool that is quieter to get them started.
5. Grow a Garden
If your kid does not want to interact with humans, there is a good chance he’ll connect well with nature. Gardening is a soul-soothing activity that will appeal to your kiddo. Planting seeds and growing fruits, flowers, and veggies, is a great way to teach your kid the importance of nature. When something edible grows from a seed, your child will experience pure joy. To get started, give your child a plant to grow on their own, teach how to water the plant, tend to it, and care for it.
6. Calming Crochet
Crochet is one of the best activities for introverted kids. Children can learn to stitch just as easily as adults. Crochet is very calming and it’s great for your child who doesn’t like to participate in group activities. You will be surprised at how much a needle and a yarn can keep your child occupied. Let your child experiment with some colors and fun patterns for a good dose of entertainment as well.
7. Love for Recycling
Introduce your child to the world of recycling! Have your kid do something creative with tossed materials. Old magazines, broken CDs, plastic, cardboard, glass — let the recycling bin inspire your kid to create something innovative. Tin can planters, toilet paper roll binoculars, cereal box tissue holder, paper bag, your child can create just about anything!
8. Reading
Reading is another great activity for your introverted child. Not only is reading entertaining, but it also helps in improving your child’s vocabulary and language skills. From bedtime storybooks to classic novels for tweens, there are all kinds in the market. Find out what genre appeals to your kid mostly and get them interested in reading more books of their favorite genre. Books also help in building your child’s attitude bringing out a positive change in your child’s character.
9. Cooking
With so many cooking shows on TV featuring tiny contestants, cooking has become a popular activity among kids too. Your kid may not talk much at the dining table but might surprise you with great baking skills. Get your child a baking set, colorful mixing bowls, and kids’ knife set, and give some space to make some mess. In the process, your kid will learn to experiment with different flavors and might not be a fussy eater.
10. Sculpting
Your child will not need fancy art supplies to take up sculpting as a hobby. A recycling bin, garden, or kitchen pantry is more than sufficient. Get your kid to make a magnetic sculpture — all you need for this are nuts and bolts, ceramic magnets, and large metal lids. Your child will love building various structures using the power of magnets. Even sugar cube sculpture is fun art, just take a piece of cardboard, drop some glue on it, and start stacking sugar cubes to build a fort, castle, and more. Here are some more ideas for you to try.
