Adults know how difficult it is to overcome shyness. The task is even more difficult if you are a child. This character could be explained by a lack of self-confidence. It is, therefore, necessary to use all the means at your disposal to help your shy child regain his or her self-esteem. And with the start of the school year just around the corner, you’ll need to take action to help your child stay confident at school. Follow our advice to help your toddler overcome shyness.
WHAT IS A SHY CHILD?
First of all, it’s important to know if your child is shy or not. This trait manifests itself differently from one child to another. Some children tend to hide behind a parent when they feel embarrassed. They may also hold the parent’s hand to reassure themselves and feel safe.
Another sign of a shy child is that he or she regularly looks down when speaking or being spoken to. This shyness is not serious in itself. It is just a matter of preventing it from becoming a burden, as it may prevent the child from enjoying his childhood and asserting himself in front of his peers.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES FOR SHY CHILDREN
To help a shy child, specialists recommend certain activities. Don’t hesitate to ask your child’s opinion before signing up for a club or other activity. Don’t force them to do it, even though you may not get the results you want. Next, you should ask him what he would like to do. This way, when they see that other children share the same passion, your child will fit in more easily and will be able to overcome their shyness.
One of the recommended activities is, of course, sports. When it’s a team sport, the exercise will develop your child’s team spirit and encourage him to communicate with others. You can also suggest that your child take part in theater. Or would he or she prefer to play board games at home? In any case, whatever the activity, it should allow him to develop his relationships with others and overcome his shyness.
NEVER FORCE OR PRESSURE YOUR CHILD
Many parents mistakenly believe that pressure must be put on a child to overcome shyness. In other words, they think that it is a matter of confronting their weaknesses. Big mistake! First of all, the child should not see his shyness as a weakness.
Also, never force him to do something he doesn’t want to do. For example, don’t force your child to be friends with someone you think they should get along with. If you want your toddler to come out of his shell, you have to do it differently: invite your friends who have children at home. That way, things will happen more naturally. Your shy child will be more likely to make new friendships without any outside pressure.
On the other hand, a shy child has trouble making decisions. So you need to help him or her take the plunge. You need to do this gently. To this end, you can ask your child for help or advice on simple things. “What if we redecorated your room? What would you like us to put in it?”, or “Tonight, you decide: do we eat out or at home?”. In short, the possibilities are numerous. The objective is to allow your shy child to have confidence in himself and to make decisions.
