Is it normal toddler behaviour to be shy?

[Mamabear04]

Is it normal for toddlers to go through a very shy phase with other kids? My LO (21mo) doesn't attend nursery yet but I try to get her to spend time with other kids - play dates, playpark and toddler groups. Last week she started to get very nervous around other kids and I'm not sure if it's a phase or because of not having much time around other kids because of covid. I've been trying to encourage her to interact (as much as she can for age ie play next to the other kids) At the toddler groups she is glued to me and wants physical contact all the time and won't leave my side. Does anyone have any advice? Is it normal? I plan to take her to more formal toddler groups when she reaches 2yo (we just go to hour long classes at the moment) and then nursery maybe around 2.5-3yo

I think it's normal. My 2.5 year old has phases like this, then more confident phases. Sometimes varies from day to day..
I try to just go with it- for example, I let him sit glued to me watching the other children.

It's normal development for toddlers to go through a "shy" phase.

Oh my DD is SO shy at just over two. I wouldn't mind but she goes to nursery two days a week (and loves it, has friends etc) and has several sets of cousins around the same age that she gets on great with so is well used to there being other kids around. But take her to the park and she hangs back and looks. Forest school or that kind of thing, she'll only play with me with something no other kids are on. Even if we go to the same places over and over she's the same so it's not the venues.

I'm assuming it will pass and just embracing the fact she isn't one of the ones being lively and toddlery running rings round everyone else 😂

Thanks for all your replies. This is really reassuring. I've been so worried that not being around other kids for so long had made her very timid! Glad it's normal!