Three Tricks For Shy Kids
As you’ve probably figured out by now, I was a very shy kid. At the same time, I’ve always loved music performing for people. Over the years, these two opposing forces have made peace with each other and now I’m comfortable on stage singing and carrying on in front of a big crowd.
Outside of my circle of family and friends and my comfort zone of being a performer, I still freeze up from time to time and my old shy ways come rushing back in. Here are three little tricks I use to break out of my shy zone. I hope they work for you and any shy kids you might know!
1. Ask Questions – When you ask someone a question you give them a little gift. It shows that you are interested in them and that you value what they have to say. And, as a shy person, it takes the pressure off of you to carry a conversation. I find that it’s much easier to simply ask a question than it is to just start talking. It’s probably more polite too!
For kids especially, there’s nothing wrong with thinking up a few questions in advance. Every kid has a comfort zone. Start by practicing a few questions in the comfort zone and go from there.
2. Be an Actor – In new and unfamiliar situations I pretend I’m an actor and my role is to play the part of the gregarious, friendly, confident version of me. I tell myself that I don’t know anybody here and therefore, nobody knows the shy version of me. That frees me up to behave in a way that is contrary to my first instinct.
In the last song on Shy Kid Blues, I sing the line “Feeling shy and acting shy are two very different things” because I believe you can acknowledge a feeling without letting it boss you around. After all, a hero can feel scared and still act brave, right? It’s pretty much the same thing.
3. Smile – This might be the easiest and the most important tip. Just smile! When you are quiet people can only gather information about you from your body language. A friendly smile and a little eye contact go a long way to let people know that you are interested and engaged in your surroundings. You don’t have to say a word and people will know that you are friendly.