Overcoming shyness for anyone is difficult, but not impossible. There are many reasons why a child or teen develops a reserved personality. These reasons range from learned behaviors at home, to degrees of depression, coupled with self-consciousness. Overwhelmingly, a lack of self-confidence can be traced to a lack of interpersonal relationships that provide positive feedback regarding the most important facets of life. Shyness can be an endearing quality exhibited by sensitive personalities, or the natural result of trying to figure out life without constructive encouragement from others. Luckily, there are many things a parent can do to assist a shy child with conquering fears of inadequacy and severe introversion. Every child wants to discover their own brand of power, and you can help encourage their growth in the right direction.
Encourage Team Participation
Whether it’s joining a sports team or a chess club, children who are shy need to have the opportunity to share their talents in a controlled and mutual atmosphere. Gaining the sense that intrinsic talents and capabilities are useful and appreciated by others can help shy children understand that they are free to participate in social settings like anyone else. Make sure the team is one where all children feel welcomed and get lots of feedback from peers and coaches. A team that is too competitive or too negative can become a bad experience and can even hinder shy kids.
Use Social Media
Sharing through platforms like Instagram and Facebook is a great way to assist shy children with communicating on various social levels. At their own pace, they can create and express feelings, achievements, and concerns to a trusted audience. Sometimes, negative feedback is experienced using these tools. This is the perfect opportunity for guardians and parents to teach children about how to gauge and react to certain expressed behaviors.
Shopping with a Purpose
One of the most challenging aspects of being shy is learning to be comfortable in one’s own skin. Taking a shy child shopping for clothes is a great way to break down destructive personal beliefs of self-image and belonging. Someone who is shy can gain vast amounts of confidence when they are able to realize goals for creating a personal style, and can receive honest and helpful feedback from a trusted friend. There is nothing worse for a shy child than to be alienated from a peer group because they lack the skills to connect on age-relevant levels.
Controlled Environments
A radical shift in lifestyle can be perfect for the shy child who needs help in many realms of interaction. As a supplement to traditional education, a boarding school or academy experience might be the answer. Places like the Admiral Farragut Academy and other great institutions give shy children the opportunity to function well in a controlled environment. Mandated goals and team organization can provide the best opportunity for them to find hidden strengths, while earning honorable rewards for maturing in specific areas.
Most often, a child settles on shyness because they are afraid to embrace their unique roles or don’t feel comfortable expressing themselves. Shyness eventually turns into fear, which manifests as a block to the extraordinary potential each child possesses. Learning to see oneself as a deserving and strong individual is the key to growing out of shyness. These steps are ways for giving any shy child permission to realize their true worth and break free from their shell.
