What can I do to encourage my shy child’s expressive language skills?
Do you have a shy child who is hesitant to express him or herself? Recent research indicates that shy children don’t necessarily need direct language intervention.
Parents and other caregivers sometimes tend to converse less with shy children due to these children’s preference for limited social interaction. Instead, parents and others who interact with shy children should put forth extra effort to speak with shy children as much as possible. These increased attempts at communication can help shy children to develop their expressive language skills. Researchers also recommend that parents make increased efforts to arrange play dates between their shy children and compatible peers. This can help to bolster expressive language by building independence, confidence, and social skills.
Reviewed by Dr. Eva Benmeleh, September 2020
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