Sometimes it can be hard at this age to break into a group. For instance, if your child arrives a bit late to a birthday party, he may hang back until the time that he senses it is just right to jump in.

If you were a shy child yourself, this behavior might be very hard for you to watch and re-live. But don’t be tempted to swoop in and push your child into the fray: He has to be able to find his own way into a crowd. Once he is more comfortable, praise his confidence.

How Shy Kids Make Friends

Sometimes shy children will seek out a friend who is more outgoing; by seeing his friend’s behavior, your child may learn how to be more “out there” himself. Other shy kids are drawn to friends like themselves, who are less socially demanding.

Monitoring Shyness

If your child’s timidity becomes a problem at school, you may want to keep in touch with his teacher to make sure he is talking up in class. He may need extra encouragement from adults at school, and it is always good to reinforce these kinds of actions at home.

Kids usually grow out of shyness by the time they are eight—so don’t worry. This behavior is all part of growing up.