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Helping a Shy Preschooler Become More Confident

Little child with teddy bear

How can I encourage my bashful preschooler to open up and break out of his shell? He's soft-spoken, reserved, and afraid of walking into a room full of people. He used to cry when we'd take him to the church nursery, and now he resists being left at his daycare center. Is there something we can do to make it easier for him to interact with others?

Under certain circumstances, shyness can be a formidable social handicap for kids. It may also become a source of tremendous frustration for parents. Every individual is different, and there are some situations in which a child’s bashful behavior may turn into a cause for serious concern. But most of the time it’s simply a question of temperament. In such cases, there’s no need to think of it or treat it as an insurmountable problem.

It’s important to realize that some kids are born with a genetic predisposition to be less outgoing than others. Shy children tend to be cautious, anxious, and reticent about tackling things that are new or unfamiliar. Parents need to be careful not to reinforce this avoidant behavior, either by giving in to their child’s fears or by criticizing his shyness and harming his self-esteem. Raising bashful boys and girls is a delicate art that requires discernment, sensitivity, and balance. If you have a more assertive, confident personality than your son, it may be particularly difficult for you to understand him. In that case, your first assignment is to get inside his head and try to see the world through his eyes.

One of the best ways to help a shy child is to show him that you love him unconditionally. Let him know that he doesn’t have to perform in certain ways to be accepted by you. At those moments when he seems paralyzed by his bashfulness, respond with encouragement – a disapproving comment or look will only make him feel even more self-conscious. At the same time, resist the temptation to make life easier for him by shielding him from new people or situations. Coddling and reinforcing self-defeating behavior will only create additional problems in the future.

As for the situation you’re facing at the daycare center, we suggest that you make up your mind to establish firm rules and set definite limits. Express your expectations clearly and stick to your guns even when your son cries or throws a tantrum. Your goal should be to take him into the daycare center, say goodbye, and leave. You may want to enlist the help of the nursery worker or daycare supervisor to make the transition easier. Your child isn’t going to like this plan, and chances are that he will raise a huge fuss. As a matter of fact, things will probably get worse before they get better. If this happens, don’t give in to your son’s protests. If you do, you’ll be rewarding him for acting out, and he’ll only ramp up his negative behavior the next time.

There is always a chance that your child’s problems may be serious enough to warrant professional help. Some kids – like some adults – have a condition known as “social phobia.” Fortunately, this problem can be effectively treated with therapy. To find out more, we suggest you call Focus on the Family’s Counseling department.

 

Resources
If a title is currently unavailable through Focus on the Family, we encourage you to use another retailer.

Building Confidence in Your Child

Secure Daughters, Confident Sons: How Parents Guide Their Children into Authentic Masculinity & Femininity

God-Confident Kids

Brave Moms, Brave Kids

Helping Your Kids Deal with Anger, Fear, and Sadness

Referrals
John Rosemond: Parenting with Love and Leadership

Articles
Taming the Transition Times

Preschoolers

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