1. First of all, are you sure your child really is shy? Some children like to size up a situation before they jump in. Caution should not be misunderstood as shyness.

2. You'll need to find out type of situations that make your child shy. Some children are shy only when they are in a group. Others become shy when asked to make a presentation in front of class at school. Try to identify specific skills your child needs to be more at ease in social situations which make them to be shy.

3. Don't call your child "shy". Studies have shown that often a child will grow to fit a label. Parental pressure on shy child can cause anxiety and insecurity, leading to a worse problem with shyness. Don't push your child to achieve above his or her individual level. If you have to use word 'shy' to describe your child always pair it with something positive, e.g. “John is a little shy around people but he is a brilliant pianist!”