Say Goodbye to Being Shy: A Workbook to Help Kids Overcome Shyness

by Richard Brozovich and Linda Chase

Book Overview

When is shyness just a facet of your child's personality, and when is it a problem? Even occasional shyness can inhibit your child from making friends, being open to new hobbies and experiences, and performing well in school. This book features more than forty fun activities kids and parents can do together to build confidence and assertiveness, useful attributes with lifelong benefits. The first activity in this book helps you create a reward system...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157224609X
• ISBN13: 9781572246096
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Instant Help Publications
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.0" x 9.8"
• Age Range: 6 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 7

Customer Reviews

James Wood, Ph.D Licensed Psychologist; Certified School Psychologist

Say Goodbye to Being Shy by Richard Brozovich and Linda Chase is a welcome addition to one's toolkit of helpful, user-friendly resources for use with children who struggle with various aspects of shyness. Intended primarily for parents, professionals who work with children will also find this book to be quite useful. Say Goodbye to Being Shy offers a number of benefits to readers. At a time when there are so many choices of books of the self-help and pop-psychology variety, readers will be glad to receive insights and practical strategies from two highly trained and well credentialed professionals whose experience in working clinically with children is quite apparent. Strategies offered are theoretically grounded, procedurally consistent, and empirically supported, thus lending greater confidence to users who are looking for more than "just another opinion." The content covers the topic of social shyness comprehensively. The information and strategies provided are both visually and procedurally engaging for children while also being structured and purposeful in dealing with the problem of shyness. Readers will find that one need not consume the entire book from cover to cover before being able to begin using the material. Children can be helped to begin working on ways to understand and manage their shyness right away. The many techniques provided can be utilized strategically according to the specific needs of a particular child. The workbook format makes effective use of many practical, real life examples that children can relate to. Material is presented in a way that is developmentally appropriate, relevant and interesting for children. The book is uncomplicated and easy for both adults and children to use. It provides numerous cartoon illustrations, forms, charts, and structured opportunities for self-reflection and application. Importantly, the book also provides ways to help child and adult to monitor progress toward specific goals related to dealing with shyness. Though the book deals with the "problem" of shyness, the material is positively oriented toward helping shy children develop better self-confidence, enhanced self-esteem, and improved social relationships. As a licensed psychologist who works both in schools and in private practice, I am excited about the usefulness of this material in my clinical practice as well as in the schools. The material can be used individually or with children in small groups. The "ready to go" format makes it particularly practical for busy professionals and busy parents. I give this book my very positive endorsement!! J.M. Wood, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist Certified School Psychologist

Great book to help overcome shyness

After utilizing the first book about shyness by these authors ("Say Goodbye to Being Shy"), this updated version is equally as good if not better than the first edition. The workbook format is excellent in that it gives parents specific activities to have their children do to help overcome their shyness. The activities are detailed and well explained, making it very easy to understand their importance and function in overcoming shyness. This is an excellent tool if your child has an issue with shyness. Sue Kaleel

Deserves 10 stars! Terrific book!

My son has ASD, so I've been working with him for a long time. I have a very good feel for what he'll respond to, and what isn't going to work. This behaviorally based workbook will be extremely effective with him. Each lesson is prefaced with a short objective, and is written in clear, simple language. My son can give himself points for reading and working through the activity, and then redeem his points for rewards (prior to starting the book, you and your child will work out an incentive program according to the guidelines in the book). The exercises in this book help a child combat shyness by teaching him to do the following: 1. reframe what he is thinking and feeling (using positive self-talk, noticing friendliness around you, etc...) 2. practice good social skills (eye contact, how to apologize, expressing yourself just right, etc...) 3. combat anxiety and nerves (breathing exercises, using music to change your mood, etc...) and 4. build his confidence (train to be a champion, practicing bravery, happy memories, helping hands). The exercises are really practical. For example, in "Train to Be a Champion", the idea is for the child to learn that practice does result in improved skills and abilities, which results in a sense of control and self-confidence. The 3 skills the child practices (over 10 days) in this lesson are tossing pennies in a cup; jumping rope; and a skill of the child's own choosing. I think it was a great idea to choose skills that would improve rather quickly -- as someone trying to learn the guitar, I can attest that 10 days of practice isn't going to make you significantly better. However, my son is sure to be better at jumping rope or tossing pennies, and will gain a very specific lesson in the value of practice. Because my son has ASD, I don't actually expect his shyness to improve substantially after working though the 40 exercises book like the authors suggest. However, this book will give him an arsenal of valuable tools, and over a more substantial period of time, I'm sure he'll find them very helpful in navigating social situations.