Parenting Skill and the ISTP Child!

If your child is ISTP, Introverted with Sensing, Thinking and Perceiving, parenting skill can be improved by understanding that these ISTP young ones are typically naturals and trial and error, they experience and touch everything. And we will get into that in just a moment.

Firstly understand that this page is devoted to helping you as a loving parent or guardian better understand how to use your instinctive nature to improve your parenting skill by nurturing your child.

Your nature and your child’s nature is your personality type and your child’s type as discovered through the Myers Briggs Test. You may or may not be ISTP; but, if your child is ISTP than this page can guide you in developing outstanding parenting skill as you raise and interact with your ISTP child.

You’ll be introduced to several key personality characteristics of the ISTP child and you’ll be given some suggestions as to things to do that will improve parenting skill and help nurture you ISTP child all through life.

We’ll assume that you know your personality type and that your child is ISTP…here we go!!

Some Characteristics of the ISTP Child-Some Behaviors to Look For

• ISTPs ,well these kids are explorers…they will find and touch every inch of their worlds!
• The ISTP child will be somewhat wary of others and will stay close to you
• The ISTP child is attracted to things more than people
• The ISTP baby may not smile much, even frown a lot, may not enjoy cuddling as much as you might want them to
• Many ISTP babies are stronger than others, they will/may stand up earlier, walk earlier….ISTPs have a built in desire for hands-on-learning identifiable even as babies!
• The ISTP young one will not be as emotionally present as you may desire…after all “feeling” is their inferior function
• Most ISTPs will learn by doing…they may get bruised a lot as toddlers because of this
• The ISTP child is a “maverick”, “individualist”, “free spirited” thus your ISTP may not understand rules, regulations, etc.
• At all ages, the ISTP is driven by curiosity, they are impetuous, spontaneous, reckless by their very nature
• The ISTP child is a loner of sorts, very selective about friends, playmates
• This type of child will probably enjoy “recess” at school more than anything else…it gives them a chance to be spontaneous, etc.
• Your ISTP may enjoy and excel in athletics of all kinds…these kids just love movement, running, climbing, etc.
• The ISTP child (adult) can be out of touch with how they feel…school age failure can be crushing to them, not emotionally but the ISTP needs to be “capable”, skilled” “proficient” they need and want that
• You may notice your ISTP being less emotionally expressive, not talking about how they feel
• The ISTP child is strong willed, logical, competent….if your discipline is not they will question it
• The ISTP adolescent does not like “silliness”…”silly” rules will frustrate and irritate them
• Because the ISTP is a “perceiver” they will likely create mess, messy rooms, spaces, not pick up things, etc.
• ISTPs love you even though they might not liked to be hugged, cuddled, touched, they are honest, if they say they love you…they probably do!

Regardless of Your Type Mom and Dad-Here Are Some Things You Can Do to Nurture the ISTP Child and Improve Parenting Skill

• When talking to them try to be specific, the more clear instructions are the better
• The ISTP is all over the place when young so watch them if you can without too much control
• Give them objects to learn, explore from, lots of them
• Try to be private in your correction of them…they are private ones
• They are so physical (i.e. touch) show them how to do something, show them what something is
• Let them feed, dress, fend for themselves early if they try…they are such physical little ones
• Be specific with them…the ISTP usually responds well to “contracts” of behavioral expectations at adolescent/high school ages
• You can create intimacy, nearness, with them by doing what they like to do with them…somehow enter in to that activity as much as possible

In conclusion Mom or Dad, if you are ISTP than most of the above seemed pretty natural; but, if you are not a Sensing Thinker and a Perceiver at that, than maybe the above can better aid you as you develop you parenting skill. There are a lot of ISTP kids and people out there as the ISTP type makes up somewhere between 5-7% of everybody!

Should you desire to check on another personality type just link below and return to the main Parenting page and find another type, link on it, and enjoy! Return from Parenting Skill ISTP to Personality and Parenting