Need advise for my very shy 12 yr old son. Any confidence boosters?

My son is entering high school and has a very difficult time making new friends. He's a great, good looking, intelligent kid but lacks self confidence. Any advice, books, or tips to help him become more independent and confident. He has a lot of potential but I'm afraid that he will get pushed aside. He has always had a sensitive side from day one. He also has a 8 yr old brother who is the life of the party.

Answers:
Some tips from a teacher:

* Let him choose one or two activities outside of school, where he will meet new kids in a nonthreatening environment. Working on a hobby, art, or sport together will help him build up his social skills with less pressure. Summer camp is also a great opportunity to meet kids who haven't already labeled him as "the shy kid."

* Encourage him to volunteer; he's old enough to help out at a day-care center, a home for the elderly, a hospital, or an animal shelter. Helping others will contribute to his sense of self-worth and also allow him to meet other good kids.

* Don't push him too hard. If he begins to feel that he must make friends in order to make YOU happy -- as well as himself -- he will feel even more anxious about the process.

* Some boys do take longer to mature than others; if he has even one or two true friends, it's all right to let him just develop at his own pace. If he doesn't have anybody at all to spend time with, though, then he might benefit from a few sessions with a counselor who can help him find ways to reach out.

Try to find something that your son is good at and praise him often. Tell him what a great kid he is daily, how lucky you are to have him as a son and so on. Let him know you think he's smart.

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Need advise for my very shy 12 yr old son. Any confidence boosters?

Pregnancy & Parenting