Helping Your Shy Kid Make Friends

I acutely remember being painful shy as a child; it wasn’t fun. Any other shy gals out there? If so, you know what mean. 

If I could to help my own kids have a smoother time making friends and navigating the social scene, that would be such a blessing. So when Patricia Evans of the Huffington Post UK Blog asked if she could share her excellent article about easing friendship-making with shy kids, I was delighted! Please welcome her below and read on for some wonderful information and tips about helping your kids break out of their shells.

And make sure to follow along with Patricia on Twitter too for more of her savvy insight!

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Photo by Jill Encarnacion via Flickr

Why do some kids get shy and others are extremely outgoing? Before we get into this, let’s figure out what being shy really means. Children who are considered shy are usually those who are highly sensitive and strongly affected by their environment. Some kids are introverted, it’s not that they don’t want to get along with others; they just need to take the time away from people to restore their energy. Others are much more interested with their own project and ideas that they would rather play alone than interact with other kids. All of these types of shyness have a common factor – they very much wanted to connect socially but feel awkward and anxious in doing so.

When a kid is not participating and is having a hard time in making friends, parents immediately think that their kid needs to get help in overcoming his shyness. Being shy is not a problem; it’s a personality trait that many people don’t understand. They believe that when a child is shy, he is probably suffering from poor self-image. While this is not often true, we still want our children to go out there and make friends. So what’s the best way in supporting your child to respond socially?

Photo by Aka Hige via Flickr

Observe How He Reacts In Every Environment

Before making any move, observe your child first and see if he acts this way in every situation, at all times. Does he get excited in joining the soccer team but gets quiet and hesitant when he arrived at the first practice? Does he want to join a group of kids playing at the school playground but quietly walks away because he doesn’t know how to approach them? He may be active and expressive at home and with his close friends but doesn’t feel good in approaching new kids.

Let Him Express His Thoughts

Talking is a recommended stance of collaboration. Asking him his concerns and seeking solutions together could be a great start. Don’t just ask how his day went. Usually, some kids feel that telling their parents about their day felt more like an obligation than a sincere question. He can differentiate if you’re just hearing the words that come out of his mouth or if you’re really listening to him. Let him build his trust on you. Let him feel that you will listen to him no matter what he says.

Photo by BK via Flickr

Be Clear With The Don’ts and Can’ts

Maybe the reason why he’s not getting out there is because he’s hearing too much negative words from you.

“You can’t go.” “Don’t do that.”

Hearing these negative words can limit your child because he fears of rejection and disapproval. Even if you are pertaining to his older brother or sister in that matter, he might think that you won’t allow him when he asks for your permission. Make it clear to every member of the family what is allowed and what is not in the household. Set rules and boundaries to avoid conflict and confusion.

Play Early

School Family’s Patti Ghezzi mentioned common characteristics in a child’s social growth at each grade level. At kindergarten a child might consider everyone as friend but when he reaches 3^rd grade, he’s becoming more selective in choosing friends and shares less about his social life.

As early as possible, structure your child’s schedule. Make sure to allot ample amount of time in play and social activities. Get him involved in school activities and play dates. Psychotherapist Tammy Gold advises parents that helping kids bond can be done without making them feel that a friendship is being forced. By letting your kids get outdoors in a local playground or inviting other kids from school in a sleepover or picnic will do.

Photo by Marcus Kwan via Flickr

Technology Limits Participation

One common reason why kids get shy is due to the overuse of technology. TV and computer plays a big factor why kids become socially awkward. PlaygroundEquipment.com revealed that 40% of kids prefer TV and computer over outdoor play. Failing to engage in physical activities can lead to weight gain, speech impediment, and lack of social interaction. As a parent, you have to ensure that your kid gets generous amount of outdoor play over TV and computer games.

Motivate Him By Starting Small

If you feel that he is not yet ready in making friends with a bunch of kids at once, let him start with one friend that he can rely on. If he’s in a situation where he feels shy, help him overcome his fears by reminding him that it’s okay to take a while in warming up in a new situation or by citing previous events where he has overcome his shyness. For instance, telling him about that last birthday party where he held your hand all throughout the games but ended up having lots of fun with other kids can be a great motivation.

Photo by Anna Levinzon via Flickr

Team Up With Fellow Parents

Parents often drive the connection in introducing kids to another child. Making friends with a fellow parent in the community can be of big help to you and your child. The other parent might be struggling with the same hurdle and you can help each other out by exchanging solutions or by making your kids get together on a play date. Building a positive relationship with another parent can set an example to your kid in doing the same.

Role Play

More often than not, kids tend to get shy because he or she doesn’t know what to say or what to do when confronted by the situation. Sometimes, it is okay to feed him with words that can help him open up in situations. “I like ___ because ___. Can I help you ____?” is a great opening sentence to rehearse with your kids, says Julia Simens, author of Emotional Resilience and the Expat Child.

Photo by Phil Dragash via Flickr

Exercise this sentence with your kid using different situations. Your child could say, “I like your truck because it can turn into a robot. Can I help you assemble the rest?” He will be less likely to be turned down by other kids when he is positive and specific.

Shake It Off

Remember, being shy is okay. Every child is unique in his own way and being shy might also be a part of his unique trait. Most people see shyness as a disadvantage especially in social situations where an outgoing child excels more. The shy child on the other hand feels anxious and isolated due to the treatment that he might be receiving.

Social contact is one of the most important human needs that can impact our emotional and physical health in every stage of our lives. Though kids can learn to manage social anxiety, speak up for themselves, and connect happily with others at some point, they still need a little extra support from their parents in helping them become more socially comfortable.

***For more thoughts on this topic, check out this great dicussion on VProud.tv!***

First image credit: depositphotos.com, image ID:17214739, copyright:ababaka

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Meredith

Meredith blogs at The Mom of the Year, where she dedicatedly earns her title one epic parenting fail at a time, offering quick, relatable laughs for fellow parents and all their empathizers. She has been part of several best-selling anthologies, featured on prominent sites such as Huffington Post, In the Powder Room and BlogHer, and loves her role as the Executive VP/Operations Manager of The BlogU Conference. When she's not breaking up fights over Legos and juice boxes, she remains fully committed to sharing a less serious look at the world of parenting.

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