If you are the parent of a shy child, it can be painful to watch him struggle. The key is to help him work with, rather than against, his natural tendencies, says today’s guest, Bernardo J. Carducci, Ph.D., author of The Shyness Breakthrough and director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. Here’s what your child may be thinking when he resists joining in: 1) “I want to join in but I can’t.” Kids desperately want to join the fun but they feel inhibited. 2) “Who are all these people?” It takes shy kids longer to adjust to new faces. 3) “I’m scared of anything new.” Shy kids prefer their regular routines. You can’t change your child’s shy nature completely, but with practice and gentle encouragement, you can teach your child to swim in all kinds of social waters! You’ll learn how on today’s show.

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