According to Kasey Rangan, a nurse practitioner at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, some kids are outgoing, while some are shy and have difficulty interacting with others.
Dr. Caroly Pataki, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, said that when shyness is severe, it empairs everyday life for a child or prevents the child from making friends. They may suffer from a social anxiety disorder that can improve with treatment.
Shy behavior is common in babies and children. Some children are naturally shy, so they're slow to warm up or uncomfortable in social situations. Parents can help shy kids by supporting them in social situations and encouraging brave social behavior. If shyness is causing a problem for you or your child, seek help.
Kids who seem shy often warm up as they get to know a person or situation. According to Raising Children, it is better to describe these children as slow to warm up rather than shy, as labeling a child shy can make them feel that there's something wrong with them or there's nothing they can do about their shyness.
Helping children to be more comfortable and confident
Occasional shyness is an appropriate adaptive response that many children will encounter as a normal part of development, but in some cases, shyness can be extreme and cause parents to worry.
On the other hand, extreme shyness can make it difficult for children to develop appropriate social interactions and friendships. These difficulties with social interactions can carry over to adulthood if not addressed. Adults who identify as shy have reported feeling less satisfied with their lives than their non-shy peers. Others said avoiding certain activities, such as speaking in front of a group, due to shyness results in not reaching goals in life.
Shyness is a natural and normal response to what a child perceives as terrifying or overwhelming situations, like being in new social settings. Children who appear shy tend to look at the ground around unfamiliar people, not speak voluntarily in a social situation, and watch but not join other children in play.
Parents can help kids overcome their shyness by not labeling them as shy and by explaining that they are just slow to warm up. Never label the behavior. Support a child's social confidence by not pushing them into uncomfortable social situations without giving them a warning. Start with small groups or well-controlled social situations. Role-playing helps before any social event happens that might trigger shyness, per Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Discussing the topic 'shyness' with the children
Parents can ask children to interact and speak openly with other children his age. Organize a play session on weekends and invite kids who have the same age as your child so that they can be in control of their behavior. Encouraging a child to open up and display emotions openly is one of the best ways to promote interaction.
The topic must be well-discussed so the children can understand their situations more, and adults must not be judgmental and reiterate that he is a human being and doesn't have to feel bad about themselves.
Avoid labeling your child as shy when families are at a social gathering, as this will shatter their confidence. Instead, tell them how great they are at handling specific situations while at a party or an event. Encourage positive behavior whenever you notice something as this will enhance confidence and he is most likely to repeat it every time he is in a group or a large gathering, per First Cry Parenting.
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