Introverted people know they’re introverts from a young age; they just don’t know how to describe it yet. Kids who would rather dig a hole in the corner of the sandbox while the other children play a rousing game of freeze tag might just be introverts. That one girl who climbs trees all on her own might be an introvert. And the child obsessed with collecting ladybugs and dandelions for hours on end in the backyard may also have introverted tendencies. 

A common misconception about introverts is that we never want to do anything, but it’s actually quite the opposite. We’re very in-tune with our hobbies and interests, many of which just don’t involve other people. Solo hikes in the woods, reading a book in your favorite chair, and enjoying a delicious meal on your outdoor patio just in time for sunset are some of an introvert’s greatest interests—but do those activities involve a lot of yapping? They sure don’t. 

So the next time you see a solo rugrat kid rummaging through the twigs in the yard in search for the best shaped branch, let ‘em enjoy the solitude and the relaxation of being on their own. It might just be what they’re craving.