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Got a Shy Kid? Here's How to Help Him Make Friends

Even outgoing kids can suddenly get shy when confronted with a new class of kids. Here's how you can help them buddy up! (18 Photos)

Jennifer Derryberry Mann on Sep 4, 2012 at 10:48AM

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Got a Shy Kid? Here's How to Help Him Make Friends

Peter Hince/Riser/Getty Images

18 Ways to Help Your Kid Make Friends

Going back to school can give even the most charming and outgoing kid the jitters -- there are new kids to contend with in class, constantly shifting social dynamics, plus the everyday anxiety that can come with starting something new. So whether your kid's new in school, working through a shy phase, or just a little bit clueless, here's how you can help her make friends.

Teach the Foundation of Friendship
Kids naturally gravitate towards children who are able to share and who don't hit, yell or whine. Teaching those basic friendship skills begins at home. Modeling friendly behavior is the clearest way to teach it. "Be kind to your kids. How you relate to them is how they will relate to peers and friends," says family psychotherapist Fran Walfish, author of The Self-Aware Parent.