Nurturing the Shy Child: Practical Help for Raising Confident and Socially Skilled Kids and Teens

by Barbara G. Markway, Gregory P. Markway

DO YOU WORRY THAT YOUR CHILD IS TOO SHY?

DOES YOUR CHILD SIT ON THE SIDELINES, OFTEN AVOIDING GROUP ACTIVITIES?

DOES YOUR CHILD FEEL NERVOUS WHEN BEING CALLED ON BY THE TEACHER, GIVING A REPORT IN CLASS, OR READING ALOUD?

DOES YOUR CHILD COMPLAIN OF "BUTTERFLIES" IN THE STOMACH, DIZZINESS, SHAKY HANDS, OR BLUSHING?

DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD BREAK OUT OF HIS OR HER SHELL?

With the right kind of care and attention, every child has the chance to overcome his or her shyness. Nurturing the Shy Child provides parents, teachers, guidance counselors and other concerned adults with the latest information and practical tools that they need to help shy and socially anxious kids. This book covers the entire shy spectrum-from shyness in only certain situations to social anxiety disorder-and provides proven methods adults can use to ease the child's discomfort, tailored to specific ages and levels of anxiety.

Unlike other books on shyness, Nurturing the Shy Child also offers much needed information on problems that can go along with shyness and social anxiety, including depression, school anxiety, separation anxiety, excessive worry, selective mutism, and more.

Written by psychologists Barbara and Gregory Markway, co-authors of Painfully Shy and respected experts in the field, this book's sensible and reassuring tone goes a long way toward preventing needless suffering in children and offers their parents some long-overdue hope.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 5, 2005

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I obviously read this book because I have a shy child (and because I found it for $2.99 at some random bookstore, so I decided to splurge). It has some good information, but a lot of it is targeted for VERY shy children, diagnosibly shy children, which my child is not. But there were a few hints and ideas that may prove helpful in getting my son to participate more fully in social settings. It is well-written and I would probably recommend it to anyone who has an extremely shy child.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this trying to get some strategies to help my shy son who is starting kindergarten. It had some good information, but was really geared toward much older children. It was very clinical and I think would be a great resource for teens or middle school aged kids, with relaxation techniques, goal setting, etc.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very good book, I just don't think it was suitable for my needs. My shy child is indeed shy, but this seems to pertain more to children that are intensely shy and/or have a social anxiety disorder.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is a little deceptive. This book focuses on older children and teens with Social Anxiety Disorder, not just shy children. I was only able to take away one strategy to use with my shy five year old.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had good ideas as to how to nurture a shy little one, but most of their suggestions are suited for children older than the ones I have.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is specific to social anxiety disorder and seems like it could help parents understand some of the basic ideas about working with these kids.

[Debi Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat helpful.