It is one of the most common personality traits in humans. Although shyness is common and in many cases does not cause a major complication, in other cases it can make daily life more complex, especially in childhood.
This can further complicate a child’s development if responsible, accountable adults do not take steps to help them.
Faced with this situation, the specialist from the University of Zaragoza, Verónica Sierra Sánchez, recently published a scientific article in which she shared her recommendations to support the little ones.
But first, the expert warned that to understand shyness it is necessary to distinguish between two types.
“On the one hand, there is the specific or temporary shyness that we have all experienced in a certain situation,” explained Sierra Sánchez in her article published in The Conversation.
On the other hand, “there is a permanent (and sometimes disabling) shyness that often causes discomfort in everyday situations and can lead to difficulties in overall development.”
“That’s when we say a person is shy,” he added, referring to the latter. And this is exactly what has the greatest impact on infants’ emotional states, social relationships and growth.
Although research shows differences in the elements that influence whether someone is shy or not, the expert emphasized that the idea most represented in the scientific community is that both genetic and environmental factors influence the appearance and development of a person influence person.
Furthermore, the most relevant contexts were found to be family and school. Therefore, those who identify these areas must “provide them with the appropriate tools and strategies to counter this behavior.”
These are the suggestions that the University of Zaragoza scientist listed in her article.
This refers to the fact that it is important for children to be able to participate in interactions with other people from a young age, as this provides them with “a model to learn from” in order to gradually develop.
As an example, he suggested that activities such as sports games could be helpful because they require interaction with peers.
According to Sierra Sanchez, low self-esteem is associated with shyness, so it is important to strengthen this to feel more confident.
This is a cornerstone and is accompanied by two key elements: that they learn to “accept and love” themselves.
It is necessary for the academic to be able to recognize his feelings and emotions from an early age so that he can express and understand them in a healthy way.
“Good emotional competence helps to cope with different situations in life,” he said.
It is a more than common phenomenon in daily life, but that does not mean that it is healthy for coexistence.
In the words of the specialist, “labeling a person as shy can influence their behavior and beliefs, thus reinforcing shy behavior,” and that is exactly what she wants to address for the benefit of her interpersonal relationships.
Both the core of the family and the core of the school are referenced here, in addition to other instances where he has to interact with other people.
When the child feels safe, he or she can behave more freely and does not feel overwhelmed by those around him.
“Aspects associated with shyness include fear of speaking in public, fear of making a fool of themselves or fear of negative evaluation, which is why they avoid any social interaction,” warned Sierra Sánchez.
The expert emphasized that the opportunities to speak, express opinions and speak in front of an audience would help them strengthen their security and develop their own communication strategies.
Sierra Sánchez cited a study that ensures that theater can help children improve their functioning, especially if they have shy traits.
“You take on a role, face different situations and train for real life,” he emphasized in his article in The Conversation.
In this regard, he explained that “it is necessary to make visible the shyness in our society and its possible impact on people’s lives, in order to raise awareness among families, teachers and society in general.” This is the only way we can to meet their needs and improve their quality of life from home and in educational centers.”
