cheery. Even older Type 1 children will not have difficulty engaging in playful behavior with younger siblings. They often notice if someone in the family is sad, taking it as their personal goal to cheer that person up. They create fun with whichever member of the family they are with.
In order to feel loved in the family, these children need to be played with, rather than merely told they are loved. When you play with your Type 1 child and take time to have fun with them, you will put a smile on their face.
. . . .
BRIDGER’S STORY
Playing with Siblings
As the oldest of five siblings, Bridger’s fun-loving nature makes it easy for him to play with and relate to his younger brothers and sisters—even though he’s a teenager. He’ll play Legos with his younger brothers, and can make them laugh easily by being goofy. On top of that, he’s a fun babysitter to all of his younger siblings. The only challenge? Instead of putting them to bed on time, he gets them all riled up at bedtime. So much fun!
Because Type 1 children want everyone in the family to be happy, they may tend to become a people pleaser or a helper. This can turn into a pattern of compromising their true nature or needs in order to please others.
I had to be careful with this possibility with my son Mario. He was always so willing to lend a helping hand that I learned I could take advantage of it if I was not aware. Since a Type 1s energy easily connects and disconnects from one activity to another, I knew Mario would drop pretty much whatever he was doing (even if it was something important to him) in order to help me out. So I tended to call on Mario more often than maybe I should have, until I realized it was not honoring to take advantage of his random, spontaneous nature.
If a Type 1s random nature ever gets on the nerves of a more structured child, make sure to support both children in living true to themselves. Don’t let a Type 1 compromise their light nature just to please others.
We experienced this with our two sons, Mark and Mario. Mario often sat at the kitchen table, eating a snack, tapping his fingers on the tabletop, and humming a tune all at the same time. Mark, with his more structured Type 4 nature, became irritated if he was doing something in the same area. I noticed this becoming a problem when Mark often told Mario to stop making so much noise and to stop moving so much. These incidents usually occurred in the general family areas of our home, which meant that Mario was being shut down in the space where family members should feel free to be themselves.
I spoke with Mark about the situation. I shared with him that he needed a different solution than to tell Mario not to be himself! I asked Mark to come up with another solution—which he did. He decided that if Mario was getting on his nerves, it was better for him to leave the space rather than shame his younger brother by telling him he was annoying and getting mad about it. Mark honored his brother and himself this way from that point forward.
Friends and Social Settings: Naturally friendly
Type 1 children make friends readily and they naturally thrive in social settings. As a Type 1 child grows, he or she will always want to engage with new people in new situations. It can be a challenge for these children to stay entertained and amused all by themselves. They need regular interaction with people around them, hugging, laughing, and smiling. They will often bring out the playful side of their friends.
For example, I often asked Mario what Type his friends were in high school and he would tell me they were Type 1s, just like him. Then I would meet them and see that they were not Type 1s, but another Type! I finally figured out that his friends became more playful and fun-loving with him around, so they came off like Type 1s because of his energetic influence! Mario brought out his friends’ Type 1 nature, which is part of all of us, though it may be hidden from view
In order to feel loved in the family, these children need to be played with, rather than merely told they are loved. When you play with your Type 1 child and take time to have fun with them, you will put a smile on their face.
. . . .
BRIDGER’S STORY
Playing with Siblings
As the oldest of five siblings, Bridger’s fun-loving nature makes it easy for him to play with and relate to his younger brothers and sisters—even though he’s a teenager. He’ll play Legos with his younger brothers, and can make them laugh easily by being goofy. On top of that, he’s a fun babysitter to all of his younger siblings. The only challenge? Instead of putting them to bed on time, he gets them all riled up at bedtime. So much fun!
Because Type 1 children want everyone in the family to be happy, they may tend to become a people pleaser or a helper. This can turn into a pattern of compromising their true nature or needs in order to please others.
I had to be careful with this possibility with my son Mario. He was always so willing to lend a helping hand that I learned I could take advantage of it if I was not aware. Since a Type 1s energy easily connects and disconnects from one activity to another, I knew Mario would drop pretty much whatever he was doing (even if it was something important to him) in order to help me out. So I tended to call on Mario more often than maybe I should have, until I realized it was not honoring to take advantage of his random, spontaneous nature.
If a Type 1s random nature ever gets on the nerves of a more structured child, make sure to support both children in living true to themselves. Don’t let a Type 1 compromise their light nature just to please others.
We experienced this with our two sons, Mark and Mario. Mario often sat at the kitchen table, eating a snack, tapping his fingers on the tabletop, and humming a tune all at the same time. Mark, with his more structured Type 4 nature, became irritated if he was doing something in the same area. I noticed this becoming a problem when Mark often told Mario to stop making so much noise and to stop moving so much. These incidents usually occurred in the general family areas of our home, which meant that Mario was being shut down in the space where family members should feel free to be themselves.
I spoke with Mark about the situation. I shared with him that he needed a different solution than to tell Mario not to be himself! I asked Mark to come up with another solution—which he did. He decided that if Mario was getting on his nerves, it was better for him to leave the space rather than shame his younger brother by telling him he was annoying and getting mad about it. Mark honored his brother and himself this way from that point forward.
Friends and Social Settings: Naturally friendly
Type 1 children make friends readily and they naturally thrive in social settings. As a Type 1 child grows, he or she will always want to engage with new people in new situations. It can be a challenge for these children to stay entertained and amused all by themselves. They need regular interaction with people around them, hugging, laughing, and smiling. They will often bring out the playful side of their friends.
For example, I often asked Mario what Type his friends were in high school and he would tell me they were Type 1s, just like him. Then I would meet them and see that they were not Type 1s, but another Type! I finally figured out that his friends became more playful and fun-loving with him around, so they came off like Type 1s because of his energetic influence! Mario brought out his friends’ Type 1 nature, which is part of all of us, though it may be hidden from view
Similar Books
