Encouraging Shy Students Out of Their Shell
Presentations are an inevitable part of school.
Students often have to stand in front of their class and speak, and with that can come a huge wave of anxiety and fear.
“As a child I remember feeling absolute terror every time I had to get up in front of a class, my hands would shake, my voice would tremble and my heart would race to the point that I thought I would pass out,” said Monica Toro Lisciandro, owner of the Viera Studio for the Performing Arts. “I never raised my hand at school to answer a question because I would second guess myself and wind up talking myself out of participating. That all changed when I found the performing arts.”
Toro Lisciandro went from being a shy child that didn’t want to get up in front of people to acting and singing in auditoriums filled with people. She credits the performing arts and good teachers with building her self-confidence and teaching her about hard work, determination and perseverance.
Now she’s in the position to instill those qualities in children. She often has parents come into her studio asking how to nurture and inspire their children’s confidence.
Toro Lisciandro shared some tips to help cultivate self-esteem at an early age and beyond:
Preschool Ages 3-5
*Decision making at an early age helps children with getting used to making choices and using their voice to assert their thoughts and ideas. Stick to a limited set of options for your child. Too many options and the decision becomes overwhelming. As your child makes more decisions, they will enjoy greater confidence in their judgement.
*Praise is a wonderful thing but the phrase “there can be too much of a good thing” is also true. The goal of complimenting or praising your child’s work is to make sure they know they have put forth their best effort, not that their work is perfect. The more you emphasize hard work and de-emphasize results, the more your child will learn that their self-worth doesn’t come from praise or perfection but from practice.
*Mr. Roger’s saying “look for the helpers” was true the day he first said it, and continues to be true today. It teaches children where to turn to for help, and inspires reciprocal generosity of spirit within themselves. Build your child’s self-esteem by giving them something to do. By doing so, you will give your child a sense of purpose, promote problem-solving and strengthen independence.
*Trying new things and stepping outside of a child’s comfort zone can be an amazing way for them to realize what they are capable of. Instilling a sense of excitement for new ideas, friends and places can be a great way for them to practice independence.
*Recognize there will be moments of disappointment for your child. If they don’t get chosen for a team during recess, or even fail a test, avoid ignoring the event. Capitalize on the disappointing moment by encouraging growth from the situation and promote resilience in your child.
*Nurture their interests and talents and let them go through the process and finish it to the end. Your child may find it’s easy to try something, realize it takes a lot of hard work and dedication and then quit before the project is over. Trying different interests and making sure that you see it through until the end of the session ensures that there is a sense of commitment and accomplishment. It can also ignite a lifelong passion.