Being shy is a normal personality trait.
Most people consider themselves as shy.
When introduced to a new person, asked to deliver a speech in front of a crowd or when involved in an unfamiliar situation, most people manifest physical or emotional reactions that characterize shyness.
Children are no exception.
Children can be bashful.
Children would not easily act comfortably to situations that are new to them.
However, if this trait applies to all possible situations, then there is a cause for concern.
Parents and other adults should help a child overcome his or her trait.
Over time, a child can carry this trait, which can have a significant affect on one's personal and professional life.
This kind of children, moreover, can have trouble finding friends and asserting their selves.
They may have a low self-confidence level.
They may be prone to teasing or bullying.
More assertive children can take advantage of them, and they may resort to isolation.
They may also experience sadness or feeling of unimportance.
Parents, teachers and other concerned adults can help children get rid of their shyness.
There are different techniques that an ultimately make a child break out from his or her shell.
Shyness in children can be a result of social environment, adult involvement and parental upbringing so these individuals have to take the necessary steps in order to make a child feel comfortable during the social situations they dread or even fear.
Here are some of the techniques on how to get rid of shyness in children: - Encourage regular interaction with their peers Organize activities that require interaction.
Encourage children to participate in these activities and interact with their peers.
Consequently, they can be able to make a connection with others.
They can initiate conversations and then make new friends, too.
- Encourage participating in discussions Let children voice out their opinions.
Do not criticize children in a negative ways.
Negative criticisms can have negative effects on a child.
Negative criticisms can also be a factor that leads to shyness in children.
- Provide simple tasks that can improve social skills Assign tasks to shy children.
For example, ask them to conduct a survey among their classmates.
These will provide children a reason to initiate conversations with their peers.
However, it is important to assign tasks that children can easily handle.
Or else this technique can backfire.
- Discourage teasing and bullying at school Shy children can be subjected to teasing and bullying.
Since children seldom assert themselves, their more assertive peers can take advantage of them.
Therefore, adults should keep an eye on teasing.
It is important to discourage these acts because these may really affect the self-esteem of children.
- Give compliments to shy children If a child does something good at school, give him or her compliments.
These simple praises can boost one's self-confidence.
But when giving compliments, bear in mind that children can also dread being in the center of attention.
Do not put children in the spotlight if you know that they can feel awkward.