socially awkward teen wants to change

[Blessthekids]

I have posted before about my dd's friendship in the past, currently, things are fine on that front and apart from stress of exams, is largely in a good place. She is an introvert and is aware that she is socially awkward, she would love to be better at group occasions and have her voice heard but has no ideas how to achieve this. I have done the whole get her to join clubs, take up hobbies etc. She will be an adult soon and although she has no issues with being an introvert, she is aware she needs to operate in an extrovert world so wants some tools to help with this. I have heard of drama type courses aimed at getting people to be more socially confident and was wondering whether anyone has experience of this. Did it make any difference? Alternatively, if you have any other course or book suggestions, I am all ears.

thanks

If she has sporty hobbies has she done any young leader type courses? Then she can help coach younger children & would have short conversations with parents/carers at the start & end of the day. eg www.lta.org.uk/workforce-venues/coach-teach/programme-development/becoming-a-tennis-leader/

Heard good things - www.toastmasters.org/education/youth-leadership-program

A Saturday job would help her no end. I used to manage a shop and had many shy and socially awkward children come to work for me. Without one single exception they all blossomed in a customer-facing role. Initially they were simply polite but as the weeks passed they would start to instigate conversations with the customers, especially the familiar ones.

It was actually rather wonderful to watch, most of them have kept in touch and have become adults well able to cope with today's world.

Thanks for the suggestions and insights, makes me more hopeful that she will find her way in this world. Will look into youth leadership courses.

This thread has been very positive

Cantfindname there is a young teenage girl who works at the cafe in a local farm shop to me where I go every Saturday while my DSs are at a club. (So young that when she first started I was like...someone has lost their small child, she looked about 10 years old!)

Over the last year she has gone from painfully shy and flustered at the tiniest thing when she started as a trainee to a smiley, confident and chatty member of staff, making eye contact and small talk at the till (to everyone, not just me). It's a pretty big busy place, so it's not just that she has got used to a small group of regulars - she really has gained those customer service skills to talk to anyone. It's quite amazing to see her changing over the weeks. I wish I could say something without seeming like a total creep!!

Have given her a copy of Carnegie book to start off with as realistically a job isn’t something she could commit to until after her exams in the summer. I am surprised that she is keen on the idea of a job, I thought I would have to bribe her!

I’m still looking into all the other suggestions and haven’t given up idea of drama, but focusing on baby steps for now. Thanks again for the advice