Is Your Child Shy?

Shyness is of more concern if it is persistent rather than temporary, a child psychologist has said.

16:44 02 August 2016

Heidi Gazelle, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Melbourne, says that it is very common for young children to be shy and be reluctant to interact with others. But when does this stop from being a natural part of growing up and become something to worry about?

 

Heidi said that shyness becomes a concern if it results in playing alone in groups of children. Children who engage in very social interaction in comparison to children their age are missing out on learning various skills that serve as a foundation for normal development such understanding other people’s feelings and perspective and expressing their point of view in a way that is acceptable to others. As a result, their social cognition, social skills and sense of self may be less mature than those of other children their age.

 

Parents can help their children overcome their shyness by arranging play dates and helping the child join a group extracurricular activity. Parents are also encouraged to talk to their children about their friendships and act as a sympathetic source of encouragement and constructive ideas.