The last thing you may want to do here in the middle of summer is think about school, but if you have a child who is very shy and/or timid, you might be worrying a bit about how to introduce him or her to another school year. If this will be your child’s first foray into the world of school, it can be tough knowing how he or she will react and knowing what you can do to make the transition smoother. Even if your child has been in a school for a while, if he or she is very shy or timid, the start of a new year can produce a great deal of anxiety.
Chances are, you are not going to make your timid child un-shy in a matter of weeks, but you may be able to help prepare him or her for school and teach some coping skills to accommodate for the shyness. Make several visits to the school—even if the school is closed, just walking around and pointing out where the playground is and the restrooms are can help. As soon as the teachers get back to school in August, try to arrange a visit so your child can spend some time getting acclimated and talking to the teacher. Most schools will be happy to accommodate this.
If possible, arrange for your child to meet some of his or her future classmates before school starts. Some schools will have meet-and-greet opportunities in a park or a chance to meet in the late summer. If your school does not, you might consider arranging one yourself. If your child has already been to school, keeping him or her connected with some of his or her favorite schoolmates during the summer will help to ease the anxiety.
Meanwhile, you can be role-playing with your child and acting out some of the situations that can be the most stressful. There are also many books about starting school and shyness so a trip to the library can be a good way to get the conversations started. Remember to be positive and avoid putting a negative spin on your child’s shyness or make a big deal out of it. Sending a message that you are there for your child but that you have confidence he or she will make friends and learn how to get more comfortable in new situations shows encouragement and faith instead of judgment.
See Also: The Education Blog