Parenting Tips
Is Your Child Shy?
From The Parents Guide: Solutions to Today's Most Common Behavior Problems
in the Home by Stephen B. McCarney, Ed.D and Angela M. Bauer, M.Ed comes these
tips on helping your child with shyness:
- Encourage your child to interact with others.
- Teach your child conversational questions like "Hi! How are you?"
"What have you been doing?" "What are some of your hobbies?"
"Would you like to play a game?" etc.
- Allow your child time to get used to being around peers, guests, babysitters,
etc. before expecting him/her to interact with them.
- Talk to your child about peers, guests, babysitters, etc. before they arrive
in order to help your child prepare for their arrival and to help him/her feel
more comfortable when they are in your home.
- Provide your child with frequent opportunities to meet new people.
- Be a model for your child by introducing yourself, conversing with others,
meeting new people, shaking hands, etc.
- Have a calendar of family activities and indicate on the calendar when guests
will visit, doctors appointments, etc.
- Sit down and explain changes, new activities, etc. a few days before they
happen, if possible.
- Do not "push" your child too hard when encouraging interaction.
Your child may become frightened.
- Participate in new situations with your child, like going with your child
on the first day of school, teach your child how to ride a bike, be near when
he/she is learning to swim, etc.
- Make those who are in contact with your child aware of your child's shyness
in order that they may help your child feel comfortable in new situations.
- Because your child is shy, do not inadvertently reinforce the shyness by letting
your child get out of doing things because he/she is afraid.
- Do not "make fun" of your child when he/she acts shy or avoids new
situations.
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