The Introverted Child

Helping a quiet child bloom

- Malia Jacobson

When a child shirks social interaction — hiding behind your legs at the playground or hugging the wall at a birthday party — it’s easy to label that child shy. But a socially withdrawn child might not be shy at all. He or she may simply be an introvert or in the throes of normal separation anxiety.

In rare cases, a child may have a social phobia. The National Institute of Mental Health describes true social phobia as an intense fear of being watched, judged or humiliated that interferes with the ability to form relationships. This condition is relatively rare, appearing around age 13 and experienced by around 5 percent of teens.

But many more children and teens display traits of shyness or mild social anxiety, including feeling uneasy at social events, avoiding eye contact and retreating to solitude at the earliest opportunity. If these behaviors sound familiar, here are ways to help your quiet child thrive.

Early Years

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