5 Ways To Encourage Your Quiet Child

Being able to speak up for yourself is a skill, and it takes time and practice for many quiet kids to develop it. Let us have a look at different ways that as a parent or guardian one can opt in order to help and encourage the participation of the child.

#1: Say something positive about their personality

It’s not just your attention that you need to encourage, but theirs. If your child is shy, encouraging them to talk more will take time. Show patience and willingness to help them find the courage they need without getting frustrated with their lack of words. Helping them discover and use their own voice will eventually lead them out of their shell and into a happier place.

#2: Model their behavior

When you’re engaging in conversation with your children, talk to them like they’re adults. The conversation should move at the same speed. If it’s taking too long, that child is wondering if they’re intruding on you or they’re talking too much. Try to set an example by speaking at a normal pace so that you can show them how easy it is to enter into the conversation without feeling like you’re intruding on someone else’s space. Do not do this while driving or operating heavy machinery!

#3: Take turns engaging in the conversation

Don’t feel bad for speaking more than once during a brief conversation with your children. They need to be encouraged to participate too. Simply take turns with a question or a story to demonstrate that you’re willing to slow down and engage in a conversation with them.

#4: Encourage activities where they can talk

Take your child out for coffee or tea. Neither of you will feel pressured into having the discussion end quickly. They’ll also have the chance to relax and talk about whatever is on their mind. Sit outside in the sunshine when it’s warm enough so that your child can enjoy being outside. If they’re shy, ask if they’re feeling a little more comfortable playing a card game that allows them to talk.

#5: Be a part of their life

While children often feel that they can speak up to you, not everyone is willing or able to sit and talk with you about everything. Take the time to actively engage in their lives and be there for them when something comes up. Give them your full attention so that they feel comfortable coming to you without needing the reassurance of verbal communication.

Other things that might help include-

– Spend one-on-one time with them

Be willing to take time out of your day to be interested in them. It’s not always about what they’re saying, but the fact that you’re there with them is enough to show that they are important. Take your kids out on the town or include them in your family activities. You don’t have to talk most of the time, but make sure that you are spending time with them each day so that they feel close enough to reach out when they need something.

– Maintain a two-way conversation

When you’re speaking with your child, ask questions after they’ve spoken. Don’t be afraid of silence when you’re having a conversation with them. The more time that they have to answer so that they can use their words is going to help them build up their confidence in what they have to say.

– Break the ice before an event that’s going to stress them out

A party can be a scary thing for a quiet child. If you know ahead of time that the party has been planned, spend an afternoon with your child preparing them for it. Also, at least letting them know what’s going on when it happens. If you know that they may be nervous about it, take some time to talk with them about their fears. Be sure to ask questions instead of telling them what’s going on.

– Listen to them

Whether you’re talking about a problem, expressing an opinion, or sharing a story, listen to what your child has to say. Don’t interrupt them and let them know that you want to hear all that they have to say. Look at them when they’re talking and give a nod every once in a while so that they know that you’re interested in what they have to say.

– Stay positive

Letting your children know that there’s nothing wrong with being quiet is going to make things easier for both of you. Quiet kids get teased or bullied about their lack of communication skills because others aren’t always sure how else to react. Let them know that you’re not worried about their ability to communicate. Be confident enough in it that they’re not afraid of speaking up. Try not to threaten them with punishment for talking. Instead let them know that they can talk when they feel like it.

If your children are shy or quiet, these strategies might help you get through the next few days before this all starts to become easier. The more comfortable your children speaking up in public, the better equipped they’ll be to do it in other situations. Have patience and remember that you’re doing this for their benefit.

While many of these suggestions are based on social interactions with children, none of these tips are truly applicable to every situation where someone is talking to someone else, especially if the conversation is one-sided. However, for situations where a person is speaking on a subject that are not really important or interesting for the other person, many of the suggestions can help facilitate more satisfying conversations with children. Learning about your child’s personality and personal preferences first will help you find out what you can do better in order to have more fulfilling conversations with them.

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