7 things parents need to do immediately when their child is shy

Catherine Peason, a women’s and family writer, has two sons with contrasting personalities. While her 6-year-old son is active and makes friends easily, her 3-year-old son is more shy and reserved.

"I realized that people often want my 3-year-old son to change, to break out of his 'shell', to be aggressive in new situations and to fit in easily like his older brother. I don't like that, but I want to prepare him to confidently step out into the world ," she said.

And Armanda Freeman, an American mother, has a 6-year-old daughter who suffered from social anxiety disorder.

"After being sent to two different daycare centers and starting kindergarten, my daughter Maia suddenly developed severe social anxiety. As a mother, I would sometimes tease her by pushing her away from me and not letting her hide behind me. She would often cling to my leg whenever she encountered an adult she didn't know," Armanda said.

Shy children are often self-conscious, lack initiative, do not dare to take risks and easily miss out on many opportunities in learning and life. Therefore, to encourage children who are too shy and timid, parents can refer to the following suggestions:

For young children, feeling shy in a new environment (like school) is a normal developmental process. Illustration photo

1. Don't see shyness as a weakness

“(Your child) could absolutely be a shy, introverted kid who only hangs out with one or two really close friends who support them and talk to them. That's great and nothing to worry about, ” says Koraly Pérez-Edgar, associate director of the Institute for Social Science Research at Penn State.

For young children, feeling shy in a new environment (like school) is a normal developmental process. Most children do. " It's our way of showing that we're entering a new space and gradually accepting things," the expert says.

In fact, shyness can be beneficial, as it can help people think more carefully before acting, making them appear calmer and more trustworthy. Researchers say people should not view shyness as a better or worse way to interact socially, but simply as a different way.

2. Encourage children to communicate

You can ask your child to interact and talk openly with children his own age. Organize a play date on the weekend and invite neighbors, school children or siblings of the same age so that your child can control his behavior.

Encouraging your child to be open and comfortable with expressing their emotions is one of the best ways to promote interaction in children.

3. Create a safe environment for children to explore

Many children are adventurous by nature, but parents always prevent their children from exploring for fear of hurting them. Parents can put all dangerous objects in the house such as scissors, kitchen knives, electrical outlets, etc. out of reach to create a safe area for their children. The freedom to explore and a comfortable mood will naturally make children become more active, energetic and optimistic.

Many children are naturally adventurous, but parents always prevent them from exploring for fear of getting hurt. Illustration photo

4. Avoid "labeling" your child

Imagine you have a preschooler and every day many adults come up to greet him and say sweet things to him. When the child hides behind his parents, the adults will say, "Oh, he's shy," and even the parents will think the same thing, not wanting to think their child is being rude.

But that's not what they should do, experts say. "Don't label your child as shy," says pediatric nurse Kasey Rangan. "Explain to people that your child just needs more time to bond with others, and try your best not to label the behavior."

Pointing out your child's complex emotions can also be an opportunity to remind others not to "label" them, even if they don't mean it in a bad way.

5. Show empathy

According to the Huffington Post, parents should not judge and express dissatisfaction with their child's shyness. This action can unintentionally make children feel bad, ashamed and disappointed in themselves.

Parents should not judge and show dissatisfaction with their children's shyness. Illustration photo

6. Let your child play with friends of the same age

We can invite a few children to our house to play, or take our children to the house of close friends. Children of the same age can play together more, have more common languages. In this environment, children will become happy, bold, and improve their own skills.

7. Ask your child how he or she feels

While you don't want to label your child as shy, it's important to give them the opportunity to talk about how they're feeling as they go out into the world and explore new situations.

You can have a simple, open conversation, something like, “What’s on your mind today? Did you enjoy swimming class?” That will help you figure out if your child’s shyness is causing any discomfort without having to “label” anything.

“It helps your child tell you where their limits are and that you need to respect that. That becomes especially important as your shy child gets older and you want to continue to support them, encouraging them to talk to you about their anxiety or difficulty finding ways to fit in,” says Pérez-Edgar.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/7-dieu-cha-me-can-lam-ngay-neu-thay-con-nhut-nhat-rut-re-khi-ra-ngoai-172240617155258582.htm