Helping children overcome SHYNESS

My five-year-old daughter loves playing with her girlfriends but is shy about playing with boys. My daughter has no siblings and I wonder if that's the reason. Sometimes I feel guilty about not having another child. How can I help her overcome her shyness?

- DR.SACHIN BALIGA

-Maria Julius, Chennai

Shyness is common in children. You need to encourage her to be more outgoing. Start by encouraging her to play around boys, if not with them. Devise a more managable strategy by setting small goals for her and appreciating her when she achieves them. For example, saying 'hello' to one boy per day. It's important that these efforts are appreciated. Moreover, share incidents from your own childhood to show her how you dealt with male-female interactions. Also try to find out if any boys in her peer group have been making fun of her or bullying her. If so, this could be a cause of her reluctance to play with them.