| Children nowadays are under a lot of societal | | | | apparent shyness or social anxiety, it is important to |
| pressures. A shy or socially anxious child has no | | | | support the child without looking overly concerned; |
| place on the playground. Children, as young as | | | | more worry on the child's part will be |
| kindergarten, are expected to be super achievers in | | | | counterproductive. The child needs to feel that you |
| school, sports, be popular and also have many | | | | are concerned about their happiness and not that they |
| friends. These ideals are becoming increasingly | | | | become popular or seek social perfection. Also, let |
| difficult to achieve in part due to popular media, and the | | | | them know that you love them for who they are, not |
| demand for perfections it places on kids. In a child's | | | | for what you want them to be. Children in general are |
| world, shyness translates to geekiness and | | | | very sensitive. Shy children tend to be even more |
| awkwardness. | | | | sensitive. Shy children can peek up on the parent's |
| Many parents take their child's social anxiety quite | | | | unconscious need for perfection. Unfortunately, when |
| personally. They are afraid that shyness maybe a | | | | that is the case, these kids suffer even more social |
| consequence to their authoritative parenting practices, | | | | anxiety. They may even become more shy and |
| or excessive discipline, for example. While it is true | | | | withdrawn. Let your kids know that you are willing to |
| that excessive demands of perfection might make a | | | | help them overcome shyness and social anxiety if that |
| child less assertive, there has been no convincing | | | | is what THEY want for themselves. |
| evidence to back up that theory. In fact, quite the | | | | After all, your main goal as parents is to ensure your |
| opposite is true. Many researchers, for instance | | | | children's happiness. But it is important that you realize |
| prominent researcher Jerome Kagan, established | | | | that some characters maybe innate, and may not |
| evidence that shyness may indeed be genetic! | | | | entirely amenable to change and alteration. This is not |
| Whether this ends the nature versus nurture debate in | | | | to say that social anxiety is to be embraced. |
| the etiology of social anxiety or not is not the issue. | | | | Offering help to overcome social anxiety is important; |
| The fact is: parents do need to nurture their children's | | | | just remember to listen to your child's needs and take |
| budding concept of self, and help them develop healthy | | | | their cues. If your help is solicited, then by all means |
| self-appreciation and self-esteem; but it is not known if | | | | interfere. Otherwise, don't let the world revolve around |
| these measures guarantee that the child will grow up | | | | your child's shyness or lack of social skills. When they |
| to be an outgoing extrovert. | | | | are ready to change, they will approach you with open |
| If you are a parent concerned about your child's | | | | hearts. |