http://blog.thejubileeacademy.org/the-shy-child.html Helpful Online Content and Activities for Christian Homeschooling Families Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:06:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://blog.thejubileeacademy.org/the-shy-child.html/comment-page-1#comment-7476 Jerre Johnson Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:26:54 +0000 http://www.thejubileeacademy.org/blog/?p=370#comment-7476 I was so glad to find this article. I have been home schooling my 12 year old granddaughter all her life. She is extremely shy and very intelligent. I have had pediatricians look at me like I was at fault for her ‘social’ behavior! She actually has panic attacks when confronted with an unfamiliar situation where she is spoken to by strangers. Otherwise, she is a perfectly normal 12 year old and laughs and plays at home and in familiar settings. Heather’s comment about certain behavior being mistaken as rudeness really hit home. When someone speaks to my granddaughter and she turns her head or gives them ‘the look’, it is embarrassing for me, but it’s painful for her. Unfortunately, strangers can’t see that. Then they invariably ask me what’s wrong with her! I may start carrying copies on Mimi’s article with me to give these people. I definitely will show it to her pediatrician. I was so glad to find this article. I have been home schooling my 12 year old granddaughter all her life. She is extremely shy and very intelligent. I have had pediatricians look at me like I was at fault for her ‘social’ behavior! She actually has panic attacks when confronted with an unfamiliar situation where she is spoken to by strangers. Otherwise, she is a perfectly normal 12 year old and laughs and plays at home and in familiar settings. Heather’s comment about certain behavior being mistaken as rudeness really hit home. When someone speaks to my granddaughter and she turns her head or gives them ‘the look’, it is embarrassing for me, but it’s painful for her. Unfortunately, strangers can’t see that. Then they invariably ask me what’s wrong with her! I may start carrying copies on Mimi’s article with me to give these people. I definitely will show it to her pediatrician.

]]> http://blog.thejubileeacademy.org/the-shy-child.html/comment-page-1#comment-9664 Susan Martin Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:10:44 +0000 http://www.thejubileeacademy.org/blog/?p=370#comment-9664 Wow, my 15-year-old always-homeschooled daughter is exactly like the commenter's granddaughter. She says that she just freezes up and can't speak when strangers speak to her. She appears to ignore them or she turns to me to answer for her. I know all about that embarrassment/misunderstanding. I worry about how she will get along in life, but so far she has not let it stop her from doing the things she wants to do (she takes many art classes). I was also very shy (and we are both introverts - needing our "alone time") but I did spend all those years in school and learned how to function with other people. I'm looking for ways to help her learn to function in everyday social situations with strangers. (She has taken an ettiquette class.) She spends almost all her time with her sister and brother and has one good friend. She says she is not interested in having more friends. Wow, my 15-year-old always-homeschooled daughter is exactly like the commenter’s granddaughter. She says that she just freezes up and can’t speak when strangers speak to her. She appears to ignore them or she turns to me to answer for her. I know all about that embarrassment/misunderstanding. I worry about how she will get along in life, but so far she has not let it stop her from doing the things she wants to do (she takes many art classes). I was also very shy (and we are both introverts – needing our “alone time”) but I did spend all those years in school and learned how to function with other people. I’m looking for ways to help her learn to function in everyday social situations with strangers. (She has taken an ettiquette class.) She spends almost all her time with her sister and brother and has one good friend. She says she is not interested in having more friends.

]]> http://blog.thejubileeacademy.org/the-shy-child.html/comment-page-1#comment-9268 Don Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:16:17 +0000 http://www.thejubileeacademy.org/blog/?p=370#comment-9268 I have a shy child he is scared to sart a conversation or be in one. He talkes as little as possible and if possible will answer questions in incompleate sectences.Any waythanks for the artical. I have a shy child he is scared to sart a conversation or be in one. He talkes as little as possible and if possible will answer questions in incompleate sectences.Any waythanks for the artical.

]]> http://blog.thejubileeacademy.org/the-shy-child.html/comment-page-1#comment-6030 Heather Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:51:56 +0000 http://www.thejubileeacademy.org/blog/?p=370#comment-6030 Great article! I am the mother of a shy child and we use the very approach that you outline here. Here is just one more suggestion in training up introverted children. When I observe behaviors that could be considered rude, we talk about it later, in private, so my child can exhibit more polite behavior the next time. Shy children often do not realize that certain behaviors can be interpreted as rude. When younger, focus on eye contact, polite smiles and nods of the head. Later, words and short phrases can be encourage. No matter how shy the child may be, you can usually come up with a solution that is comfortable for both giver and receiver. Great article! I am the mother of a shy child and we use the very approach that you outline here. Here is just one more suggestion in training up introverted children. When I observe behaviors that could be considered rude, we talk about it later, in private, so my child can exhibit more polite behavior the next time. Shy children often do not realize that certain behaviors can be interpreted as rude. When younger, focus on eye contact, polite smiles and nods of the head. Later, words and short phrases can be encourage. No matter how shy the child may be, you can usually come up with a solution that is comfortable for both giver and receiver.

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