Shy children, should I send her to drama club ?

[MarmaLaid]

My 5 year old DD is energetic, fun, silly, playful, on the ball and I’m very proud of her. She is starting school next week and is very shy meeting adults or other children in big groups and usually does warm up, Usually by the time to go home
Chatting with a random older lady in the park recently and she said I should send her to a drama club to help her confidence.
I never really worried about it being a problem before but I do worry now with school starting and I want her to be happy.
So, is ‘shyness’ a problem to be fixed or let it run its course? Or is it just part of her personality?
Any thoughts appreciated

No. Drama club is shocking for shy kids and I say that as someone who has taught drama for some years.

If she asks when she's older and has grown out of her shyness or wants to tackle it, then by all means go for it.

But for now, school and playdates will be enough.

I'm watching this with interest, as my DS (3.5) is shy, and I have been wondering if there is something I should be doing to build social confidence, other than lots of play dates.

No. FInd her an activity that she enjoys and can be good at, don't force her to be uncomfortable regularly. Let her be who she is.

Drama may be a bit much for her atm but something like brownies or a group that do a range of activities may help her come out her shell a bit x

No!! My youngest is very shy to the point where he has selective mutism and is being referred to speech therapy. The worst thing you can do is force them out of their comfort zone.

School will be a big step for your DD but she will learn to find her own place and her confidence will grow in time. If she asks to do a class, then let her do something she is interested in. But right now I wouldn't force it.

My ‘shy’ daughter loves drama it’s really helped her. We started with a class which was games and fun rather than performances. She now goes to a theatre school, which is very performance based and she loves it, still struggles making friends there though.

Whether it's right for your daughter is down to her as an individual. If you do try it, be led by her on whether she's keen to continue.

I was a shy child and did get something out of drama club, but I was much older - 12 or 13 - and was attending with a very confident friend who helped me mix in. Otherwise I think it would just have been another place where I kept my head down.

A drama club helped one of my dds so much when she was little, sometimes she used to literally hang on to my legs crying if ever I left her, up until she was about 4, it was recommended by a nursery member and we tried it, well she was there weekly for ten years but after just a week a two the difference was fantastic and she is now the most lovely un clingy confident bright young woman. Everyone is different obviously but for this dd worked wonders.

'Send'

NO

If she wants to? YES

Why listen to a 'random' lady?

This!!! My daughter is quite shy and just started school and drama is an after school activity option. I was worried she wouldn’t enjoy it but she wants to try it so I am sending her and if she loves it she will continue and if she hates it I will let her stop. Forcing her would make everything worse

No OP please don't do this. My DM did this with me and needless to say I would dread it every week and if anything it made me more shy. Better to find out what she really enjoys, and if she can make friends and come out of her shell in the process, all the better!

I think that it's better to quietly boost shy children in a natural environment.

Letting her pay at the shops for example. Encouraging her to say thank you to the bus driver.

Small steps.

This post is a bit tongue in cheek, I am not sending her anywhere she doesn’t want to go, merely posing the question as a lady said that’s what I should do.
Interesting points of view, I like the small steps approach,