Does your otherwise chatty toddler hide behind you when a new person approaches to say, "hello"? It might look like your child will never open up to know new people but what's important is understanding what's going on on your toddler's mind and dealing with it. In time, your toddler will open up.
What could be at the core of your toddler's fear of strangers?
a) At some point you may have told the child, 'don't talk to strangers'. Your child is just following instructions.
b) Interacting with strangers is not part of the routine you have established for your child.
c) Dealing with a stranger is not something he anticipates and hence protests.
Now that you may have arrived at what is bothering your little one, how do you help them overcome it?
Ways to ease the child's fear of strangers:
a) Use a familiar environment such as your home, school or park to introduce to your child to strangers.
b) Don't push your child to go to new people before he's ready.
c) Allow for some warm up time. Be around while your child gets acquainted with the stranger.
d) Prepare your child beforehand, especially older kids who can understand.
e) Expose the kid to public places. Parks are great places to make new friends for both, mom and baby.
f) Be sensitive and prepare to handle the child's anxiety.
Happy socialising!
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