INTP children are often rather unique, even from a young age, and might even stand out in some ways. They face many struggles, and so do their parents, but at the same time, their special qualities help them through a lot. Here is everything you need to know about the INTP child.
They Are Fiercely Independent
Even from a young age INTPs are very independent people who prefer being on their own most of the time. They can become short-tempered without realizing why, simply because they aren’t getting the alone time they truly need. Their sense of independence and need to be by themselves is something that can be misunderstood when they are children. Some might believe that the INTP child is a “loner” and see this as a negative thing. To them, it appears like the INTP is angry or upset when they truly just need time to themselves.
They are overly expressive even as children, and combining this with their desire to have their own space, often leads to feeling misunderstood. As children, they don’t really understand this themselves, which makes it difficult, even impossible, for the INTP to explain their needs to their family. They also want to please their parents, but being able to do this is challenging for them. They might please them by doing well in school, especially if the INTP thinks this will get them off their backs. They simply need room to grow and learn without feeling constantly smothered.
They Need to Explore Their Creative Sides
While INTPs are seen as logical from a young age, they are also very creative people. When they are children, they often need to be free to explore their imagination and sense of creativity. This is something that should definitely be fostered and nurtured when they are children for the sake of the INTPs own happiness. They have rich inner minds, which need to be explored even from a young age. During these formidable years, the INTP child should be able to dive into their own inner imaginations with a sense of openness and freedom. They can often focus on learning and logic more than anything else, but their creative side is a big part of who they are. For the INTP to grow into the person that they are meant to become, they need to explore their logical thoughts, as well as their imaginative ones.
They Care Much More Than People Realize
While INTPs are not expressive, they are deeply caring about their loved ones. The parents of the INTP child can sometimes feel like they don’t truly care about them or appreciate them. They have difficulty expressing their emotions even from a young age and rarely appear open or warm. While the INTP child might not be verbal about their inner feelings, they still experience them deeply. They have difficulty opening up, but they often think about their parents and care about them. They just struggle to really open up, and sometimes they struggle to understand their emotions.
Sometimes this means the INTP child needs to hear they are loved more than they express. It might seem like they don’t want to hear these things, but in truth, they might even need to hear it more. They simply have a hard time reading emotions and need to see them somewhat clearly. While the INTP does enjoy knowing that they are loved, they need plenty of space at the same time.
The Struggles of the INTP Child
INTPs children experience their own set of challenges, ones that mold and shape them as they grow up. INTPs children can often feel different and often misunderstood. They might struggle to fit in, feeling like they don’t really connect readily with most others. The INTP child might learn how to blend in, but they rarely feel truly connected to most people. They simply have a different way of approaching things, and this makes them feel distant from most of the world.
The INTP child has a powerful and rich inner mind, thick with imagination and creativity. They can spend hours daydreaming and coming up with new ideas, which can sometimes alienate them. This is something that parents and teachers can misunderstand, presuming that the INTP child is either lazy or unfocused. In truth, they are intelligent children who can become bored by most of their academic leaders. They need more stimulation than most schools can really offer them, and often understand the material and find themselves lacking interest in it. The INTP child enjoys challenges and information that makes them think and explore new possibilities. Their complex inner minds can cause them to be misunderstood as children, especially if people write them off.
The INTP child’s desire for time alone can also cause them to be seen as loners when in truth, they just need to recharge. They enjoy being around their friends and family but also need time to daydream and process information. The INTP child might need less time alone than they do as adults, but they still require their own space. If they are smothered, the INTP child might act out in some ways without really meaning to. Following rules doesn’t come naturally to them, so it can be challenging for the INTP to remain disciplined.
Struggles for the Parents of the INTP Child
The parent of the INTP child definitely does best if they can learn to connect with and understand their child’s unique behaviors. Simply trying to change them or hover over them is only going to make things worse. They need to be given room to grow but also need to be shown that they are loved and valued. The parent of the INTP child might struggle to understand that their child truly does care for them. They just don’t express it like some children. While other children might be cuddly and affectionate towards their parents, the INTP child often enjoys their own space. They can become even more independent if they have siblings, making it challenging for the parent of the INTP child to remain connected to them.
The most important thing to remember as a parent of the INTP child is to let them be themselves. Trying to change them or constantly being worried for their well-being is going to make them feel like they are doing something wrong. Their unique behaviors are only going to make them grow into strong and intelligent adults, especially as they mature. The INTP child needs to feel like they are loved for who they are and need to feel completely accepted by their parents.
