Shy No More

Don’t let shyness get in the way of your child’s socialization. Try these gentle strategies to ease your child into being more comfortable in new and different situations.

THE SHYNESS FACTOR

We all want our children to be happy, outgoing little people at whatever age they happen to be. But some children are just naturally shy. They have difficulty making and keeping friends, and they are reluctant to try new things. When it comes to explaining the shyness factor, there are two camps – one side says that shyness is genetic, and the other claims that it is learned behavior. For parents, it’s more than a little confusing. Many of us with more than one child often have gregarious and exuberant and another who is timid and almost painfully shy. We don’t love the shy one any less, but we’d really like them to break out of their cocoon a little more.

MONKEY REFLECT

Some children’s shyness may also be connected to underlying fears and anxieties. Even at a very young age, some worry about what others may care or say about them. As parents, we can try and reassure them that there is little to fear. Still, they may need more attention to provide them with a sense of security and safety as they venture out into the world. One of the best things we can do is model our own positive behaviors in trying out new things or participating in different activities. If we show them that the fun is doing and not the result, it gives them more confidence to try new things.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

An excellent strategy to help younger children who are shy is to organize play dates with one or two other children with whom they may already feel comfortable. As their confidence grows, you can introduce additional, new play partners. Helping your young child see the importance of building and maintaining friendships is another helpful technique. If you have taught them good manners, that will help smooth their way. Remember, too, that they are paying close attention to how you react to situations. Even if things don’t go well at first when you are doing something, if you remain calm and try it again, they may.

REWARD

You can help older children who are shy by utilizing positive behavior management techniques to reward them for trying new things or overcoming their fears. These can be as simple as an extra hour a week of watching TV or playing their video games if they agree to work outside their comfort zone. They can then decide for themselves whether or not they want the extra privileges, and they certainly can’t blame you if they don’t follow through. One of the side benefits of such an approach is that they learn they are responsible for their own actions and positively influence their own situation. For shy children, this is very empowering and can really work well to build their confidence to deal with other cases.

GROW AT YOUR OWN PACE

Whatever approach you decide to pursue, for children of all ages who are shy or withdrawn, it should be implemented gradually and in stages. You must allow them time to learn how to interact positively with others and let them do so at their own pace. Some children will grow out of their shy stage early in life, and others may carry it with them forever.

FAMOUS PEOPLE ARE THE KEY

It’s also important to never let a child believe that their shyness is a problem. Point to hundreds of successful people who were once what they thought was incurably shy. Like Nicole Kidman, a shy child who admits to being terrified sometimes before she is asked to perform. Or Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, which didn’t stop them from becoming two of the most brilliant people in history.