Shyness

John's Most Recent Articles

Is This Battle Worth It?

Posted on 12/29/2021

Q: I have six-month- and thirty-two-month-old boys. The older one—well-mannered, easy going, very affectionate—attends a preschool program three mornings a week. This is his second year there. ...

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Shy Child? Don’t Fret About It

Posted on 2/16/2021

Researchers have found what many personal testimonies will confirm: most shy children, even the most painfully shy of them, are not shy adults. The progression from introversion to extroversion...

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Sociability for Shy Child

Posted on 3/24/2015

Copyright 2015, John K. Rosemond Q: Our 7-year-old is very shy. He doesn’t enjoy the sort of social activities, including sports, that other kids his age are generally involved in and...

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Personality Issue, Not a Behavior Problem

Posted on 10/7/2014

Q: My 7-year-old son does well in school and sports and has a good number of friends. However, he often allows himself to be intimidated by other boys. He is a rule-follower and is more...

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32-Month-Old Girl Shyness

Posted on 7/26/2011

Shy toddlers Q. Our 32-month-old daughter has always been outgoing and loves to be around people ... until recently, that is. All of a sudden she has started lowering her head when we get...

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4-Year-Old Boy Not Socializing with Other Children

Posted on 5/31/2011

Boy doesn't like playing with unfamiliar children Q. My son will be 4 years old in a couple of months. He is having problems playing and relating to groups of kids in social situations. For...

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3-Year-Old Son Social Development

Posted on 7/20/2010

Lack of playmates worries mom Q: My 3-year- old son has been at home with me since day one. I'm worried about his social development. He loves being around other children his age, but that...

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4-Year-Old Boy Not Very Social

Posted on 10/6/2009

RELAX AND LET AN INTROVERTED CHILD DEVELOP Q. My 4-year-old son is not fully engaged when he has a friend over. His twin sister makes friends easily and the difference between them is glaring....

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4 - Year - Old - Girl Does Not Like Compliments

Posted on 12/4/2007

Too many compliments? Q. Our 4-year-old daughter doesn't like it when we compliment her for a good job or anything else she does well for that matter, including using good manners. We've...

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6-Year-Old Does Not Make Eye Contact with Others

Posted on 9/3/2002

LAY DOWN THE LAW ABOUT 6-YEAR-OLD'S LACK OF EYE CONTACT Q: My daughter is 6, and I am concerned because she rarely makes eye contact when speaking to anyone. Stacy is very bright, listens well,...

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Recent Questions

An Inconvenient Phobia

Posted on 10/27/2023

Our oldest daughter just turned six. She’s always had a hard time at the doctor & dentist. At almost 3, she was put under to put caps on her front teeth, and when one of them developed an abscess...

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Boy is Dr. Jeckyl Sometimes, Mr. Hyde at Others

Posted on 10/17/2022

I have a 10 year old son, who when at school is completely shy and reserved to the teachers concern. At home around his siblings, especially his older brother (12yo), he is a different kid....

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Shy 7 Year Old

Posted on 12/31/2021

My 7 year old first-grader has trouble joining into social situations. He plays well with his 5 year old brother, but with peers, he goes off on his own, and will tell stories to himself (I...

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2 year old Hair Cut Anxiety

Posted on 5/21/2021

Hello, my son is 2 years and 3 months old. He has not had a full evaluation for autism yet but is showing signs and is nonverbal. He is in desperate need of a haircut but anytime we have taken him...

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Shyness Not A Character Defect

Posted on 12/13/2020

My daughter (age 16) is extremely shy and always has been. Recently due to my divorce situation, we had to relocate and so making friends has been a struggle. However, I have observed her...

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Emotional Intelligence Begins With Good Manners

Posted on 6/14/2020

Are you familiar with the term 2e kids? Or twice exceptional? Our 10 year old son appears to fall into this category. He is at above average intelligence, but his emotional iq is lacking and a...

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Helping the Shy Child

Posted on 4/2/2019

Hello! Our oldest daughter is going on 4 next month. She has always been on the quiet side. The last week few weeks I have noticed that when we receive company or we go visit others that she...

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Should You Worry About a Shy Kid?

Posted on 1/3/2019

My 10 year old daughter is shy and has trouble making friends. She can handle one on one situations, but she shuts down in a group. (and one on one is rarely the case as she has two sisters near...

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Shy at 3 is ok.

Posted on 4/19/2018

I am concerned about 3 years old daughter. She is in preschool twice a week. She likes to go to school very much But there is a problem- she is quiet and never talks in school. The teacher says...

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Greetings from a two year old.

Posted on 3/16/2018

Hi there, my 30 month old does not like saying hi to others. When someone says hi, hello, what a cutie, etc. he reacts with a loud NO and then turns away. Any advice on how I can civilize him on...

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