Some kids are extremely cautious—and even fearful—in new, unfamiliar situations. Ya know—the ones who can be found clinging to their moms' legs on the first day of school or hiding underneath a bed when someone comes over for dinner.
Here are a few tips for raising a shy child:
- Try to understand the root of the problem if she will not cooperate in a particular situation. Maybe she refuses to go to bed because she's lonely or afraid when she's in her room; she might refuse to eat the soup you made for dinner because it contains a veggie she doesn't recognize. It's much easier to handle a problem once you've determined the root cause. At that point, you can begin to brainstorm creative solutions.
Encourage her attempts to socialize. Continue to place her in social situations, even if she isn't ready to do anything other than observe the other children from the sidelines. Eventually, she'll become more comfortable with the idea of socializing with other children.
Recognize that your child may not outgrow her shyness right away. Studies have shown that only 40 percent of shy toddlers overcome their feelings by the time they start kindergarten.report abuse
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