Submitted by Susan, Boston  MA

Will my shy child ever become more social?

Answered by Jacque Grillo , Director, Lone Mountain Children's Center

Well, first the good news: Children are highly social beings, and every normally developing child is interested in having and being a friend.  But of course there is a wide disparity within that normal range.  Some children are huge extroverts and highly motivated socially.  For these children, forming friendships just seems to come naturally.  At the other end of the continuum are the more shy and introverted children.  For these children making friends can often be a lot more challenging.  Wherever your child falls onto this spectrum, it is important to be respectful of her innate inclination and make-up, and not expect her to behave contrary to her nature.  (Here's a clue: Personality styles have a strong genetic base.  Most children are very similar to either of their two biological parents, or a combination of the two.  So where your child falls on the introvert-extrovert continuum, or who your child is temperamentally, is largely biologically determined by you and your mate.)

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