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Should I Be Worried About My Child’s Shyness?
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<p><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">As a parent, it’s natural to wonder: </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">“Is my child’s shyness something to be concerned about?”</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> Shyness typically refers to discomfort in new social situations or fear of being the center of attention (Poole & Schmidt, 2025). Many children experience phases of nervousness, but sometimes shyness can persist and interfere with their daily lives.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">In this article, I’ll walk you through what research says about shyness, from prevalence and types to risks and actionable support strategies, so you can make sense of your child’s behavior with confidence.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight:normal" id="docs-internal-guid-996830c5-7fff-3add-4fc6-706595f98a26"><br></b></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">1. Understanding Shyness: State vs. Temperamental</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Modern research highlights two forms of shyness:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">State shyness</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> which is situational and temporary.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Temperamental (trait) shyness</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">, which is more enduring and consistent across environments (Poole et al., 2025).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">In a study of 152 children aged 7–8, about </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">10%</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> demonstrated behavioral, emotional, and physiological signs of persistent shyness, suggesting a temperamental trait. In contrast, another </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">25%</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> showed only temporary emotional reactivity to stress, indicating situational (state) shyness (Society for Research in Child Development summary, 2025) (Poole et al., 2025).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><img src="/uploads/blog/2025/10/06/3b6241addb834b4bb6f2fe12c85d9040.PNG" style="width: 678px"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">2. How Common Is Shyness Among Children and Adolescents?</span></h3><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">A study of early adolescents found that </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">21%</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> described themselves as shy, while </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">11%</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> were seen as extremely shy by their classmates (Eggum-Wilkens et al., under review) (Eggum-Wilkens et al., 2025).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Another large-scale survey showed that around </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">47%</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> of teenagers rated themselves as shy, while </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">62%</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> of their parents considered them shy in unfamiliar social settings (Burstein et al., 2011; Merikangas et al., 2011).</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; text-wrap-mode: wrap">These numbers confirm that shyness is quite common, but it varies by context and who’s doing the rating (self vs. observer).</span></p></li></ul><p><img src="/uploads/blog/2025/10/06/656f125e443b4fc1a62878a6c9c98ff1.PNG" style="width: 678px"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve">These numbers confirm that shyness is quite common, but it varies by context and who’s doing the rating (self vs. observer).</span><b style="font-weight:normal"><br></b></p><div bis_skin_checked="1"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve"><br></span></div><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">3. Risks and Long-Term Trajectories Linked to Shyness</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">For most children, shyness is harmless. Yet, persistent or intense shyness, particularly the temperamental kind, can be linked to later challenges:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Among children identified as persistently shy across multiple assessments, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">42%</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> developed anxiety problems in adolescence, compared to just </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">11%</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> of less-shy counterparts (Schmidt et al., 2009) (199*9 study) (2009).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">For the small group of temperamentally shy children in Poole’s study, approximately </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">half</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> went on to develop an anxiety disorder (Poole & Pérez-Edgar, 2025).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">This means that while many shy kids grow up just fine, those with persistent patterns, especially unrecognized, may be at heightened risk.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight:normal"><br></b></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">4. Hidden Shyness: When Parents or Teachers Miss the Signs</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Interestingly, shyness doesn’t always “announce” itself:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Some shy children who report feeling anxious may go unnoticed by parents or teachers, which researchers call </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">"hidden shyness."</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> This can lead to lower self-esteem and a sense of incompetence in academic or social domains (Poole & Pérez-Edgar, 2025).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Missing these subtle signs means children may not receive the support they need early on, even though quiet distress may be present.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight:normal"><br></b></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">5. Gender Differences in Perceptions of Shyness</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Research indicates that shyness is often more frequently reported for girls than boys, but that may reflect societal expectations rather than actual prevalence:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Girls tend to report more shyness themselves, but caregivers often don’t rate them as significantly shyer than boys (Burstein et al., 2011; Poole & Pérez-Edgar, 2025).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">This suggests cultural norms and observer bias play roles in how we perceive and label shyness across genders.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight:normal"><br></b></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">6. Why Shyness Isn’t Always a Bad Thing</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Shyness alone isn’t a disorder. In fact:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Many temperamentally shy children grow into reflective, empathetic, and well-adjusted adults (Poole & Pérez-Edgar, 2025).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">In some cultures, especially in collectivist societies, being quiet and reserved is highly valued and seen as a sign of maturity or self-control (Calkins et al., 2015).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Shyness can come with strengths, like sensitivity, carefulness, and deep thinking, and doesn’t have to be pathologized.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight:normal"><br></b></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">7. Signs to Watch: When Shyness May Need Attention</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Here are some indicators that shyness might be more than a phase:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Persistence across time and situations</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> (temperamental shyness), not just in new settings.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Avoidance of school or social activities</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">, or distress during typical interactions.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Functional impairment</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">, such as difficulty in school, few friendships, or refusal to participate in group settings.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Lack of adult recognition</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">, if your child feels anxious but caregivers don’t notice, they may lack emotional support (Poole & Pérez-Edgar, 2025).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">If these signs show up, it may be time for a gentle evaluation with a counselor or child psychologist.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight:normal"><br></b></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">8. Practical Strategies to Help a Shy Child Thrive</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Here are evidence-informed, parent-friendly strategies:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Observe and distinguish</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">: Is their shyness only in unfamiliar places, or with people they know? Tracking patterns over time helps.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Validate feelings</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">: If your child says, “I feel nervous,” take that seriously even if they don’t show it outwardly.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Offer low-pressure social experiences</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">: Arrange small, structured activities in familiar settings to help build comfort.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Boost emotional vocabulary</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">: Help children articulate what “nervous”, or other feelings feels like inside.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Encourage positive expression</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">: Some research suggests that shy children who can express positive emotions, even subtly, are more socially successful (Colonnesi et al., 2013).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Seek professional support when needed</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">: If shyness is persistent and limiting, early intervention matters.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">9. Quick At-a-Glance Table</span></p><div dir="ltr" style="margin-left:0pt" align="left" bis_skin_checked="1"><table style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse"><colgroup><col width="208"><col width="146"><col width="258"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height:25pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align: center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Feature</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align: center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Normative Shyness</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align: center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Concerning Patterns</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:25pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Context</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">New settings only</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Across most situations</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:25pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Persistence over time</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Fluctuates</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Stable and long-lasting</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:25pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Interference with functioning</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">No</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Yes</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:25pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Recognition by adults</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Often noticed</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Sometimes missed ("hidden shyness")</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:25pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Risk of anxiety disorders later</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Low</span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Higher (up to ~50%)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><b style="font-weight:normal"><br><br><br></b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve">10. Final Thoughts</span><b style="font-weight:normal"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Shyness is common, often mild, and can even come with unique strengths. But if your child’s shyness is persistent, interferes with life, or goes unnoticed, it’s important to support them carefully.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Here’s a set of key questions you can ask yourself:</span></p><ol style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Is the shyness situational or pervasive?</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Is it causing distress or limiting engagement?</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Is your child’s experience recognized by others, or hidden?</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Are there signs of anxiety beyond just being quiet?</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">If it feels like more than just a quiet personality, don’t hesitate to reach out to a specialist. With understanding, patience, and subtle support, shy children can grow into confident, emotionally intelligent adults.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"></p><hr><p></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-size:13pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">References</span></h3><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Poole, K., & Schmidt, L. A. (2025). Latent profiles of children’s shyness: Behavioral, affective, and physiological components. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Society for Research in Child Development</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> summary (152 children aged 7–8, 10% temperamentally shy; 25% situationally shy).</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Poole, K., & Pérez-Edgar, K. (2025). Characterizations and developmental outcomes of temperamentally shy children; approximately half develop anxiety disorders. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Penn State Social Science Research Institute</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"> news.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Eggum-Wilkens, N. D., An, D., Zhang, L., & Costa (under review). Early adolescents: 21% self-reporting shyness; 11% peer-identified extreme shyness. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Medical University of Warsaw</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Burstein, M., Ameli-Grillon, L., & Merikangas, K. R. (2011). Adolescents: 47% self-rated shy; 62% parent-rated shy with unfamiliar peers. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Journal of Pediatrics</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Schmidt, L. A., et al. (2009). Longitudinal study: 42% of persistently shy children developed adolescent anxiety problems vs. 11% of non-shy.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Calkins, S. D., et al. (2015). Emotional regulation and peer competence in early childhood. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Developmental Psychology</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre" aria-level="1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Colonnesi, C., et al. (2013). Positive shyness and social outcomes in children. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">Developmental Psychology</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap"><br><br></span></p></li></ul><p><br></p>
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