by Jessi Michaels

Created on: October 22, 2010   Last Updated: October 23, 2010

The best way of working with a very shy child is to remember that shyness, in and of itself, is not a negative. Taking the time to understand a child's behavior or trait is essential to being a good educator. Acceptance, is a huge part in helping all children reach their potential. The shy child, like all children, needs to know they are valued members of their environment.

There are many times when the shy child is the observer and reserves their thoughts and words for an avenue they are most comfortable expressing themselves. These children may sometimes be your strongest writers, readers, artists or analytical minds. When a child's shyness is problematic there are approaches to working with that as well. This is where truly knowing your student can make an enormous difference. By not forcing any changes, trust will build between you and your student. That trust will foster the ability for them to open up to you and let you into their world.

If you journal daily in your class, watch carefully for what the child reveals through their work. If you suspect any issues that are troublesome do not hesitate to bring this to the attention of a school social worker, psychologist or administrator. In this way, the child can receive the benefit of multiple trained eyes and minds caring for them. Talking with caregivers, when deemed appropriate, might help to lend insight into the child's home life and nature. Is this behavior, the norm or is it something new that has developed?

Socially, connecting a shy child with another child in the class who is a nurturer can be very beneficial. The more connected a child feels in class the more likely they are to take the emotional risk of "opening-up". This is actually a very challenging task for a shy child and it requires patience and understanding. All children benefit from learning to work with diverse personalities and traits. The shy child has much to offer and will eventually do so if given the time they need to blossom at their own pace.

As educators, we need to look less at the actual behavior and more at getting to know what lies beneath it. This is our best tool for assisting emotional, psychological and educational development in all children. We need to appreciate and respect the diverse nature of our students so that they too will learn to embrace the diversity of their world.

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