Shyness in children is a common and completely natural phenomenon. However, it is worth knowing how to support your child so that they can gradually overcome their fears and feel more confident in various social situations. In this article, we will explain what shyness is, how to support your child's self-confidence, what exercises can help, and when it is worth seeking help from a specialist.
What is Shyness: Differences Between Shyness and Introversion
Shyness is a feeling of uncertainty, embarrassment, or fear in social situations. It often manifests itself as avoiding eye contact, a quiet voice, or withdrawal. Introversion, on the other hand, is a personality trait that characterizes people who draw energy from solitude and prefer spending time in smaller groups. Although shyness and introversion may overlap, they are not the same.
Differences between shyness and introversion:
- Shyness is an emotional reaction, often related to fear of evaluation or failure in social situations.
- Introversion is a preference for how to spend time and where to find energy, independent of a fear of social interaction.
- An introverted child may be comfortable being alone, but that doesn't mean they're shy. A shy child, on the other hand, may have a strong need for social contact but fear situations in which they'll be judged.
Shyness can be effectively overcome or alleviated with parental support and appropriate exercises. Below are practical ways to build self-confidence in your child.
How to support your child's self-confidence
Building self-confidence is a process that begins at home. Parents play a key role in shaping a child's self-esteem and helping them deal with shyness.
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Acceptance and understanding – Accept your child’s feelings and show understanding. Let them know that shyness is something that many people deal with. Show them that this feeling is normal and can be overcome in small steps.
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Build self-esteem – Praise your child for their efforts and progress, not just their achievements. Highlight their strengths to reinforce a positive self-image.
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Set realistic challenges – Help your child gradually overcome shyness by setting small challenges. This could be asking for something in a store, talking to a neighbor, or playing with a peer.
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Modeling Confidence – Children learn by imitation. Show your child how you behave in social situations, how you greet others or start a conversation. Your behavior will be an example for them to imitate.
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Provide emotional support to your child – Show support when your child is feeling shy. You can say, “I understand that you are stressed, but I know you can handle it. I am here to support you.”
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Teach your child to deal with criticism – Explain that everyone makes mistakes and that you shouldn’t worry about what others think. Reinforce in your child the idea that their value does not depend on the opinions of others.
Practical exercises to increase self-confidence
Exercises can help your child gradually overcome shyness and feel more confident in social interactions. Here are some practical exercises:
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Practice eye contact – Teach your child how to make eye contact, starting with short bursts. You can practice on each other, counting how long you can hold eye contact without looking away. Eye contact helps your child feel more confident in conversation.
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Speaking Out Loud – Help your child develop the ability to speak loudly and clearly. Practice reading books or telling stories out loud together. You could invite them to perform their favorite story or nursery rhyme in front of the family.
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Situational Role Plays – Represent social situations in a playful way. For example, you can role-play a “shopping in a store” role-play where your child asks a salesperson for something, or a “talking to a new friend.” Such exercises will prepare your child for different situations and help them feel more confident.
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Strengths Lists – Create a list of your child’s strengths and skills with them. Writing down positive traits and reminding them of them regularly will help your child build a positive self-image.
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Building courage through small steps – Encourage your child to take small steps, such as “Today we will try to say ‘Good morning’ to our neighbor” or “Try asking for an extra pencil in class.” It is important to reward your child for every small success.
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Social games – Team games, board games or outdoor games can help your child become more comfortable with other people and make it easier to connect with peers. Games like “Guess Who” or “Pantomime” can also develop communication skills in a fun way.
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Relaxation Techniques – Teach your child simple relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing. When your child feels stressed in a social situation, they can focus on their breathing to calm down.
When is it worth consulting a specialist?
Shyness is a natural trait that often decreases with age and new experiences. However, if shyness affects the child's daily functioning, it may be worth consulting a specialist. Below are some situations in which it is worth considering the help of a child psychologist:
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Child avoids social situations – If your child consistently avoids social contact, withdraws from group activities, or frequently refuses to participate in events with other children, you may want to consider seeking counseling.
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Strong emotional reactions to social situations – If a child reacts with strong anxiety, crying or anger in situations that require social interaction, they may need extra support in managing their emotions.
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Shyness interferes with daily life – If shyness interferes with a child’s education, peer relationships, or daily functioning, a psychologist can help develop effective coping strategies.
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A child expresses negative beliefs about themselves – If a child often talks negatively about themselves or expresses a lack of confidence in their own abilities, it is worth seeking professional advice to help them build healthier self-esteem.
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Shyness is very intense and lasts longer than peers – If a child seems more shy than his or her peers or the shyness persists for a longer period of time, a psychologist can help determine if the child requires additional support.
Summary
Shyness is a natural feeling that many children experience at different stages of life. Support from parents, realistic challenges, and practical exercises can help a child gradually overcome shyness and build self-confidence. The key is patience and acceptance of the child's emotions. In some situations, it is worth seeking the help of a specialist to help the child develop social skills and cope with shyness.
On the Guliwerkids.pl blog you will find more tips that will help you support your child's emotional and social development, as well as build their self-confidence in everyday challenges.
