Shyness at school: A parent’s advice
Sometimes, it isn’t easy being a shy kid. I know how you feel, sweetheart: I was shy, too, when I was your age. To tell you the truth, I still am. You’ve been shy all your life; it’s part of who you are. I’ll never ask you to stop being shy or to try to be someone you’re not. But there are so many things I’ve come to see differently over time. I hope that sharing them with you will help you feel more comfortable at school and around your peers.
Group work
I have a feeling you don’t have any problems with group work when you and your friends are in the same class; at the very least, I’m sure working in a team becomes easier when they’re nearby. But I know that when your friends aren’t around, just the thought of breaking into groups for a project makes you nervous.
I’m not sure if you’ve thought about this before, but you can talk about how you feel with your teacher.
He’s friendly, and his door is always open. He could keep an eye out for classmates you might work well with. Since he can see the whole class, he has a better idea of which other students are shy too. You might even end up making new friends!
Questions in class
I bet you’ve heard this one before:
There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.
It’s true! But knowing that doesn’t make it any less nerve-wracking to ask a question in front of the entire class.
You probably do what I used to do whenever I had a question: you wonder how you should phrase it and how the rest of the class will react. By the time you finally feel ready to raise your hand, the discussion has moved on to another topic.
It’s a shame—it can be harder to learn when all your questions go unanswered. My advice is to just go for it now and then, because there’s a chance other students have the same questions.
If you’re too shy to speak up during class, write them down anyway. You can ask the teacher afterwards, or even show them to me when you get home. We can find the answers together, or with the help of Alloprof.
Recess and lunch
When I got older, I discovered a great trick that I wish I’d thought of much earlier: always have something on hand to help pass the time. For me, that’s usually a book. You know how much I love to read! A few years ago, it might have been a half-finished friendship bracelet or a sketchbook and some pencils.
When you’ve always got something to keep you entertained, you don’t have to worry about having nothing to do if your friends aren’t available. Who knows? Your handy pastime could break the ice between you and someone with the same interest. If you see other kids playing a sport you like, don’t be afraid to join in. Any team would be lucky to have someone with your ball skills!
Above all, I hope that your shyness won’t keep you from living life to the fullest. Take it from someone who loves talking to you so much—your voice deserves to be heard. Know that I am always on your side. As a shy kid once myself, I understand how you feel.
