How to Help Shy Teens Prepare for High School
High school can be intimidating, even for the most outgoing teen. Older classmates, heightened academic expectations and the ongoing desire to fit in put undue pressure on teens. For a shy teen, high school can be particularly challenging as she tries to find her place in this new environment. Prepare your shy teen for a successful transition into high school long before she walks through the doors on her first day.
Instructions
Acquaint your shy teen with the school before her first day. Attend an orientation session where she can tour the school and meet her teachers. Take her to school sporting events when she's an eighth grader so that she can see what high school is like. Introduce her to neighbors who attend the high school so that she can find some familiar faces in the hallway on the first day. Research extracurricular activities available at the high school. Group activities with like-minded peers can help your shy teen warm up to new classmates, according to the Teens Health website. Helping your teen identify potential activities before the school year starts can help offset any feelings of shyness. Ease any fears about high school. The simple fear of the unknown might be causing your child's shyness. Answer her questions about high school -- talk to her about the courses she will take, teachers she will meet and opportunities she will enjoy. More familiarity with high school can help her beat shyness. Host a get-together for soon-to-be high school freshmen. If your teen knows some of her future classmates, have them over during the summer to socialize with your shy teen. Since overcoming shyness takes practice, a summer gathering can help ease anxiety as the school year approaches. Practice small talk. If your teen is starting a high school where she knows no one, help her overcome the fear of being speechless, which can lead to shyness, according to the Psychology Today publication. Talk to her about casual ways to start up a conversation with her peers, whether they have a similar interest, live in a nearby neighborhood or share a mutual friend. Instill self-confidence. As the first day of high school approaches, offer encouraging words, telling your teen that she's going to excel at her new school. Talk to her about the friends -- and memories -- she will make in high school. Giving her a confidence boost before the bell rings can help her break out of her shell and connect with her teachers and peers.