How to Combat Teen Shyness

Shyness can cause teenagers to be self-conscious, insecure and speechless, making it important that parents do all that they can to help with this problem. Many teens display shy characteristics, as a November 2011 study published in the medical journal "Pediatrics" showed -- 46.7 percent of the teens surveyed considered themselves shy, and 62.4 percent of the parents believed their teens exhibited shy behavior.

Instructions

    • 1

      Brainstorm some discussion topics. Put your child at ease by informing him that other teens feel the same pressures and that you experienced similar problems during your youth. Provide your son with a number of different ways to start a conversation or to respond when someone else talks to him, as this can eliminate much of the anxiety that comes when speaking with another person, suggests the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org website.

    • 2

      Write out a conversation beforehand. Have your teen's lines ready to go before she makes a phone call or begins a conversation, as this can provide confidence. If this discussion goes well, your child's self-esteem could improve, which bodes well for future interactions, according to the nonprofit Nemours Foundation on its TeenHealth website.

    • 3

      Practice social skills at home, notes HealthyChildren.org. Make eye contact, use confident body language and carry on small talk with your teen. Introduce others to him, asking and answering questions, when you and your son come into contact with acquaintances, as this demonstrates how to interact with other people.

    • 4

      Encourage your child to join some groups or clubs, as this gives her the chance to spend time with other teens who share similar interests. Help your teen socialize with these new people and get to know them slowly, suggests TeenHealth.org. Inform your daughter that the other members of the group will not judge her and that she will succeed in this setting if she acts like herself.

    • 5

      Build your teen̵7;s confidence. Allow your son to take one step forward at a time and reinforce this behavior when you notice it. Tell him to step back from a situation if he does not feel comfortable, as failing to come out of his shell in a certain situation could make it even more difficult to do so in the future.

    • 6

      Develop your teen's assertiveness. Show your teen that standing up for herself or asking for things when she wants them is part of life, something we all must learn to do, and that if expressed politely, it will not upset anyone else.

    2. Previous:

    Next: