There are a few points about shyness in children which will help you
better understand the best approach in dealing with your child. You will
need to identify the nature of your child's shyness. Children are shy in
different ways for different reasons. Understanding the nature of your
child's shyness will help you develop a program geared towards your
child's specific needs. Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. First of all, are you sure your child really is shy? Some children
like to size up a situation before they jump in. Caution should not be
misunderstood as shyness.
2. You'll need to find out the type of situations that make your
child shy. Some children are shy only when they are in a group.
Others become shy when asked to make a presentation in front of the
class at school. Try to identify the specific skills your child
needs to be more at ease in social situations which make them to be shy.
3. Don't call your child "shy". Studies have shown that often a
child will grow to fit a label. Parental pressure on the shy child
can cause anxiety and insecurity, leading to a worse problem with
shyness. Don't push your child to achieve above his or her
individual level. If you have to use the word 'shy' to describe your
child always pair it with something positive, e.g. "John is a little
shy around people but he is a brilliant pianist!"
4. Never compare your shy child with other children in a negative
way. And never allow anyone else to hurt your child in this way.
5. Take your child's ideas seriously. By lessening the importance of
a child's concerns you lessen the child.
6. Help your child identify talents and hobbies that make him or her
feel special.
7. Seek out activities that offer an opportunity for growth and
increased interaction with other children of his or her age.
Encourage your child to get involved in activities with others.
Don't allow too many isolating activities, like watching TV.
8. Never push your child to do things he or she would find
unbearable. Rather, make suggestions, but realize your child may not be
ready. Be patient.
9. You need not handle your shy child with kid gloves, but be aware
of how he feels and show that you understand.
10. Seek qualified professional help if necessary.
Being shy doesn't have to mean that something is wrong with your
child. It simply means that your child is uncomfortable in social
situations. You can start your search for help by reading books, talking
with other parents of shy children, taking classes,
searching for information on the web or by speaking with your
pastor. But if your child needs immediate help it's best to consult
a qualified child counsellor. You can read some more articles about
parenting at:
http://www.baby-shop.org.uk/guide/
Dressing Girls For School
I have spoken to so many parents who tell me it is a monumental task to get
their younger daughters ready for school in the morning. Unless your daughter
has only one set of clothes to wear, she probably wants to change her outfit
three times before choosing the one she will "agree" to wear to school each day.
Here's how we solved the problem in our family...
3 Easy Ways To Make An Awesome Playroom
Are you irritated every time you walk past your kids playroom? Paper here, toys
there, the floor is strewn with stuff that you can't even guess what it is! Most
of us feel a whole lot better when things are organized. Is it natural to be
neat and tidy or is it a skill that must be learned? We'll let you worry about
that question but we'll give you a few simple ideas on how to make that playroom
fun again.
What should you expect at 6 weeks, 6 months or 1 year? We provide useful
milestones and developmental stages so that you can keep an eye on your
baby's development in the first year. Baby Stages
Ideas For Sharing Stories
With Children
This two-part article discusses the ways in which stories and
storytelling play an important role in children's lives. Techniques are
offered for using stories to help develop children's verbal skills and
imaginations. This is part one.
Who Owns The Problem; Parent or Child?
It is tempting for parents to assume ownership and responsibility for everything that goes on in the life of their child. However, when the parent jumps in too soon to solve the problem or give the answer, the child never learns to trust his own judgment and become a critical thinker.
Parenting - Making A Schedule This article on the benefits of scheduling your day as a parent
really struck home with me. It took me a while to work this out for
myself when I had young children at home, and I wish I had done so - and
benefited from the much calmer household that was the result - sooner!
