Talk to the child’s parents, who are best equipped to provide insight into the child’s shyness so that you can better understand how to address it. Work with the parents to come up with a plan that addresses insecurity, fears or any other concerns before bringing the child into the classroom. For instance, if the child is particularly fearful of speaking in front of others, avoid having her introduce herself to the class.
Assign the child to a “buddy” in the classroom on the first day. The buddy can act as a safety net for the child during class activities and can help ease the child into conversations without adding the intimidation factor that often accompanies adult-directed conversation.
Give the child a task on the first day to help shift the focus off of her feelings and onto the task. This can be as simple as asking her to close the classroom door when class begins or as challenging as handing out the day’s assignment. The point is not to favor the child, which can create a negative situation among peers, but to redirect her energy into a positive situation. Make sure to assign other children tasks as well so that the child does not feel that she is being singled out.
Allow the child to struggle a little. It is impossible to avoid uncomfortable situations forever, and experiencing discomfort helps children grow. While bullying or extreme discomfort should be avoided, allow the child to answer questions that are directed at her and don’t be afraid to ask her questions during class time.
Play games to ease the child into the classroom dynamic. Pair students up and ask them to find out one thing they have in common. Or, have each student draw a picture of his pet or sibling and describe it to the student that he is paired up with. This type of safe interaction allows children to interact without the pressure of being singled out.
Make a game out of practicing introductions. Ask the classroom to walk around the room shaking hands and telling each student something about themselves. This takes the pressure off of the shy child and gets everyone involved in getting to know one another.