Child Shyness: Help Your Shy Kid
Every child has bashful moments. Some kids, though, are shy.
Can you simply let your children be shy, or do you need to "bring them out?"
“You can do both,” says Christopher Kearney, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Shy children may not become social butterflies, Kearney says. “But you can still help them learn how to function in social settings and build relationships.”
In general, there’s nothing wrong with being shy. Shy kids are often better listeners and get in less trouble at school.
Being bashful becomes a problem when it gets in the way of doing what’s normally expected, or when it’s making your child unhappy. You may want to get professional advice if your child:
Shyness is pretty common. It’s estimated that between 20% and 48% of people have shy personalities.
Most shy kids are simply born that way, although negative experiences can also play a role. Did your child’s shyness come on suddenly? If so, an event might have triggered it, and they may need help getting past it.
Shy children often have common traits.
“Once you recognize these natural behaviors, you can work with them instead of against them,” says Bernardo Carducci, PhD, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast.
Shy kids are typically self-reliant, thoughtful, and empathetic, but often don’t like trying new things. They are often slow to warm up, taking longer to adjust to a new situation. They may want to be social, but avoid approaching others because they’re afraid or don’t know how.
It’s important that they approach situations at their pace, not your own, Carducci says.
Provide an entry strategy. Help your child approach a group of peers and listen, allowing everyone some time to get used to one another. Teach them to find a break in the chatting and join in. Offer talking points beforehand, such as, “I like boats, too.”
Can you simply let your children be shy, or do you need to "bring them out?"
“You can do both,” says Christopher Kearney, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Shy children may not become social butterflies, Kearney says. “But you can still help them learn how to function in social settings and build relationships.”
How shy is too shy?
In general, there’s nothing wrong with being shy. Shy kids are often better listeners and get in less trouble at school.
Being bashful becomes a problem when it gets in the way of doing what’s normally expected, or when it’s making your child unhappy. You may want to get professional advice if your child:
- Doesn’t want to go to school
- Has trouble making friends
- Frets about going to birthday parties or sports practice
- Is anxious about being shy
What causes shyness?
Shyness is pretty common. It’s estimated that between 20% and 48% of people have shy personalities.
Most shy kids are simply born that way, although negative experiences can also play a role. Did your child’s shyness come on suddenly? If so, an event might have triggered it, and they may need help getting past it.
Embracing the shy personality
Shy children often have common traits.
“Once you recognize these natural behaviors, you can work with them instead of against them,” says Bernardo Carducci, PhD, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast.
Shy kids are typically self-reliant, thoughtful, and empathetic, but often don’t like trying new things. They are often slow to warm up, taking longer to adjust to a new situation. They may want to be social, but avoid approaching others because they’re afraid or don’t know how.
It’s important that they approach situations at their pace, not your own, Carducci says.
Tips for helping a shy child
Provide an entry strategy. Help your child approach a group of peers and listen, allowing everyone some time to get used to one another. Teach them to find a break in the chatting and join in. Offer talking points beforehand, such as, “I like boats, too.”
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