There are a few points about shyness in children which will help you better understand the best approach in dealing with your child. You will need to identify the nature of your child's shyness. Children are shy in different ways for different reasons. Understanding the nature of your child's shyness will help you develop a program geared towards your child's specific needs. Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. First of all, are you sure your child really is shy? Some children like to size up a situation before they jump in. Caution should not be misunderstood as shyness.
2. You'll need to find out the type of situations that make your child shy. Some children are shy only when they are in a group. Others become shy when asked to make a presentation in front of the class at school. Try to identify the specific skills your child needs to be more at ease in social situations which make them to be shy.
3. Don't call your child "shy". Studies have shown that often a child will grow to fit a label. Parental pressure on the shy child can cause anxiety and insecurity, leading to a worse problem with shyness. Don't push your child to achieve above his or her individual level. If you have to use the word 'shy' to describe your child always pair it with something positive, e.g. "John is a little shy around people but he is a brilliant pianist!"
4. Never compare your shy child with other children in a negative way. And never allow anyone else to hurt your child in this way.
5. Take your child's ideas seriously. By lessening the importance of a child's concerns you lessen the child.
6. Help your child identify talents and hobbies that make him or her feel special.
7. Seek out activities that offer an opportunity for growth and increased interaction with other children of his or her age. Encourage your child to get involved in activities with others. Don't allow too many isolating activities, like watching TV.
8. Never push your child to do things he or she would find unbearable. Rather, make suggestions, but realize your child may not be ready. Be patient.
9. You need not handle your shy child with kid gloves, but be aware of how he feels and show that you understand.
10. Seek qualified professional help if necessary.
Being shy doesn't have to mean that something is wrong with your child. It simply means that your child is uncomfortable in social situations. You can start your search for help by reading books, talking with other parents of shy children, taking classes, searching for information on the web or by speaking with your pastor. But if your child needs immediate help it's best to consult a qualified child counsellor. You can read some more articles about parenting at: http://www.baby-shop.org.uk/guide/
Copyright ? 2005, Bridget Mwape writes for the Baby Shop UK: http://www.baby-shop.org.uk/guide/ which features baby information including articles and discounts on baby products, gifts and advice from other parents.
This article may be republished as long as all the above links are active and clickable and this author box (byline) is not edited.
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..Maintaining a safe home environment for your childrenAs adults and... Read More
Gift shops are a kid magnet and often a trip... Read More
By the time your children reach their teens, there is... Read More
Research literature, recent books, and common sense, all point to... Read More
What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I... Read More
Loving your step-child can be both simple and hard. It... Read More
You have a chore to do around the house, and... Read More
Bullies are an ugly but very real part of childhood.... Read More
Many parents struggle to know which foods are healthy for... Read More
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More
Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table.... Read More
Everyone loves penguins. And now, everyone has a chance to... Read More
During the assessment process it is of great importance for... Read More
There is a front line and a back end to... Read More
O.K. I've heard it a hundred times from my prison... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
Did you know that over 75% of teens aged 16-17... Read More
My son recently had his third birthday party and it... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
Giving with a happy heart. If you teach a child... Read More
Look around: Your kids are counting sleeps until the last... Read More
We all want to comfort our children after they suffer... Read More
Puberty can be a difficult time for children. Not quite... Read More
Recess has begun disappearing in states all around the country.... Read More
Not nearly as often as it should. Most child abuse... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..As the father of a toddler, I am an expert... Read More
For most children, it is easy to learn to read... Read More
Single parents are not often thought of as good parents.I... Read More
My kids ask me all the time to take them... Read More
I am sure that this list can be jogged and... Read More
So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic... Read More
10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this... Read More
It's no surprise that the self-image and self-esteem of overweight... Read More
As a parent there are lots of things that you... Read More
So you have just returned home from your third meeting... Read More
As a parent is seems that the majority of your... Read More
How can two or three children in the same family... Read More
After giving up my profession to become a wife, a... Read More
Very often, new parents rely on a parenting tip or... Read More
What parents of a teen haven't wondered where their sweet... Read More
You may remember The Red Couch Project, a book by... Read More
We need a grass roots campaign targeted towards parents to... Read More
Many parenting books advise against eating out with young children.... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
At age seven months in the womb, humans begin language... Read More
Children are moral and make moral determinations... at least until... Read More
The human brain never actually stops developing. Beginning formation in... Read More
This is one of the most common questions asked of... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Parents, when you help your children learn to read, you... Read More
Parenting |