Top Ten Signs You Have an Indigo Child

As was mentioned in a previous article, The Indigo Child: Fact or Fiction, the definition of an Indigo child was best worded in the book titled "The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived", a book by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober.

The definition: "An Indigo child is one who displays a new and unusual set of psychological attributes and shows a pattern of behavior generally undocumented before."

However, there are ten common traits that researchers, psychologists and others interested in the Indigo Child phenomenon believe help classify these children. The are as follows:

1. Indigo Children come into the world with a feeling of royalty (and often act like it).

This statement does not indicate a sassy, bratty child. It indicates a highly intelligent being who knows they are there for an important reason, even if they don't yet understand what it is. They have a feeling about themselves, that they are important, and often act like it, usually in the things they say, speaking from an experience they often haven't ever had.

2. Indigo Children have a feeling of "deserving to be here," and are surprised when others don't share that.

Again, this is one of those instances, when an Indigo internally recognizes that they were sent here for a greater purpose. These children do not necessarily act snobby or self-centered. They just understand there is a reason they have been put here, and they long to understand what it is.

3. Self-worth is not a big issue for Indigo Children. They often tell the parents "who they are."

This is a wonderful quality, that unfortunately more children to not possess. The Indigo child does not always have high self esteem, but usually knows who they are before anyone else has ever figured them out. They usually recognize that they are different.

4. Indigo Children have difficulty with absolute authority (authority without explanation or choice).

This is not some difficult child. This is the indigo, needing choices, needing different ways to approach the tasks and situations that we might do one way. Life is full of choices, and there is certainly no reason why you cannot treat a child with respect, and allow them choices, even at a young age. This will not cause the child to grow up disrespecting adults, etc. If taught early on, the Indigo child understands that they have choices to make, and will respect authority more when they understand why they are being asked to make a choice, and allowed the freedom of choice.

5. Indigo Children simply will not do certain things; for example, waiting in line is difficult for them.

No, contrary to some people's opinion, these are not children who were raised by bad parents. These are children who's attention is limited, because they have bigger, and better things they need to do, who simply cannot comprehend the mundane tasks, etc that we are requesting them to participate in. Often they do not understand themselves why they are unable to do certain things, only that they cannot.

6. Indigo Children get frustrated with systems that are ritual-oriented and don't require creative thought.

One of the key "ingredients" of the Indigo Child, is that they are highly creative, and extremely intelligent. If they cannot be creative in the way that they think, or do something, they will fall to the clutches of our boring ritual oriented lives. These children often have new ways of thinking, and doing the same things we have been doing for years. If we open up and just listen, we will hear and see things that will amaze us.

7. Indigo Children often see better ways of doing things, both at home and school, which makes them seem like "system busters" (nonconforming to any system).

This is almost the same as above. They can find much easier or quicker ways to accomplish tasks, that perhaps the common individual has overlooked. They see beyond the norm. They are not purposely being "system busters" they are simply looking for the opportunity to show others a new way of thinking.

8. Indigo Children seem antisocial unless they are with their own kind. If there are no others of like consciousness around them, they often turn inward, feeling like no other human understands them. School is often extremely difficult for them socially.

Often these children come off as loners, however it is only because they rest on a different plane than the average child. Conversations with children that are not like them, are often hard to comprehend. This might be the child who would prefer to work alone on a challenging puzzle, than playing house with another child. They are always seeking betterment, without realizing it. They are not like others, and have a difficult time expressing themselves - it takes a lot out of them.

9. Indigo Children will not respond to "guilt" discipline ("Wait until your father gets home and finds out what you did").

Often removing the child from the situation is the most effective way to deal with behavior issues. Another technique is to simply listen to them. Hear what they have to say, and then ask them questions. "If I had allowed you to carry that huge tray of breakable glass, what do you think might have happened?". Obviously there are discipline issues that might have to be dealt with differently, but these Indigo children are simply looking for someone to communicate with them, so they can try as best as they are equipped to explain themselves and their purpose.

10. Indigo Children are not shy in letting you know what they need.

Typically these children know what they need, even before they understand why they need it. Don't always say no. Listen to their reasons for wanting or needing something. Don't always assume that they have normal childhood tendencies, expect that they have valid reasons, and try to understand them.

Parenting or teaching an Indigo Child is challenging and difficult. However, if you research new methods, begin talking to your child more, and really listening to them, you might truly be surprised at what you are dealing with.

Because after all, the new kids have arrived.