Guest Author - Elsa Neal

Creativity chat with Kris Bordessa, part 8, on helping shy children

(Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10)



Participants:

Elsa Neal, Creativity Editor, BellaOnline
Kris Bordessa, author of Team Challenges
Megan Romer, Board Games Editor, BellaOnline
Writermom
Bonnie Sayers, Autism Spectrum Disorders Editor, BellaOnline
Candlepassion


Writermom
"What about kids who aren't comfortable in the spot light? I don't want to use the "shy" label, but my older son doesn't like anything where he has to open his mouth in front of other people. Do you have some activities to help bring them out of their shells?"


Kris
"Shy children really, really hesitate to participate in these activities at first – they seem to be worried about embarrassing themselves, of putting themselves "out there".

I have a story...
Several years ago, I had an incredibly shy boy on one of my teams. He would sit quietly, not participating, yet listening. I always made sure to ask him for his suggestions directly, rather than allow him to be steamrolled by the enthusiasm of his teammates. Nothing embarrassing; I just asked, "Do you have any ideas or thoughts on how to solve this?” Often he didn't, but eventually, he learned that he could share his ideas without being embarrassed.

After about five months of working with this team, that shy child was center stage, taking on lengthy speaking roles and dancing in front of people!

So, persistence pays off!”


Elsa
"Sometimes shy children just take longer to think things through, as opposed to children who speak before thinking properly. Give him plenty of time and don't make him feel he has to answer immediately."


Kris
"Yes, and again, back to those verbal challenges - they are great for letting kids think and then answer, even if it's tentatively at first."


Kris
"Writermom, there are few of those challenges on my website, here and more here, but you have to explore a bit"


Writermom
"Thanks"


Next page

---

Team Challenges by Kris Bordessa is available from Amazon.com

Kris Bordessa is also the author of Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself!