3 year old being rude and unsociable!

[Jojo13]

DS1 just turned 3, always been a happy, chatty placid boy, but recently he's started being shy around people (even family and friends) to the point that he turns his back on them, won't speak to them or is just rude "no I don't want to say hello" and won't say thank you or anything, even when asked.
Now I'm sure this is a phase, and on the whole, it doesn't bother me much as I know he's 3 and toddlers can be buggers! But I'm conscious of how I should deal with it?
I don't want to (and can't) force him to speak to be people, but how can I encourage more pleasant interactions?! I don't want to tell him off, I'm sure he's just expressing himself or something?! But it's getting a bit embarrassing! Do I gently tell him he's being rude and should try to be nice to people and hope he grows out of it? Or something else?

Thanks lots

Bumping for you as I am in the same situation.

Don't be embarrassed, a lot of kids go through this phase, don't tell him he's being rude, just tell him it's OK if he doesn't feel like he wants to speak to anyone, they'll all be still there when he's ready. It'll pass, my ds went through it, and he's back to a wee chatterbox now, lol xx