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:

1. Encourage your child to interact with others.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. Allow your child time to get used to being around peers, guests, babysitters, etc. before expecting him/her to interact with them.
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
5. Provide your child with frequent opportunities to meet new people.
   
   
6. Be a model for your child by introducing yourself, conversing with others, meeting new people, shaking hands, etc.
   
   
7. Have a calendar of family activities and indicate on the calendar when guests will visit, doctors appointments, etc.
   
   
8. Sit down and explain changes, new activities, etc. a few days before they happen, if possible.
   
   
9. Do not "push" your child too hard when encouraging interaction. Your child may become frightened.
   
   
10. 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.
    
    
11. 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.
    
    
12. 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.
    
    
13. Do not "make fun" of your child when he/she acts shy or avoids new situations.