Tips for Helping Your Shy Child Build Confidence

Parents worry about sending a shy child off to Kindergarten. They wonder if they’ll be able to advocate for themselves with teachers and classmates and whether being quiet will make it challenging to make new friends. These concerns are understandable, but shyness doesn’t usually last too long. At Fay, we spend so much time together and work hard to build a safe community within the classroom that you’d never really know anyone was shy after a week or two! However, if you are looking for ways to ease the transition to Kindergarten for your quiet child, here are a few helpful tips.

Don’t label your child as shy.

When your child clings to your side as you enter a party, it can be tempting to mention their shyness by way of explanation. However, those words have power, and the more a child hears themselves called shy, the more it will reinforce their reticence. 

Prepare your child for unfamiliar situations.

Children who are naturally cautious like to assess a situation before jumping right in. When possible, prep them ahead of time with information about where you are going, who will be there, and how an event will unfold to minimize any anxiety they may feel.

Create Opportunities to Open Up

While a quiet child may avoid the spotlight, most kids will open up a bit when sharing something meaningful, like a drawing that they are proud of or a book they love. 

Teach politeness as a way to navigate social situations.

Manners are an excellent tool for navigating new situations. If your child knows how to introduce themselves, make eye contact, and converse in a loud and clear voice, that’s a great ice breaker! At Fay, our Primary School students get practice with these skills every morning when Head of Primary School Katie Knuppel greets them at the door. 

Let them know they are not alone.