My 2-year-old son is getting more shy

Child psychologist Laverne Antrobus: On the contrary, it sounds to me like you are doing a lot right. As well as watching their parents and other people around them interact, children need to be exposed to a variety of social experiences.
Your son's attachment to you sounds complex. Maybe he feels that moving away from you physically is scary and the only way to be sure of your presence is to stay close. It could be linked to a past incident when
he felt alone or worried about where you were.
Try not to worry too much - some children simply take longer to feel confident away from their parents.
Talk to your little boy about the groups he attends and help him plan what he would like to do beforehand, explaining that you can play with him
or sit close by and watch. Forward planning will help your son prepare for different situations and in turn make him feel safer.

Start a discussion :: Print this article ::