Shyness Author:Philip Zimbardo Parents of shy children worry, and with good reason. Shyness can interfere with a child's growth, development, school performance and social experiences. Statistics show that 20% of children are born shy, and another 20% develop shyness. Parents who are shy themselves feel great compassion for their shy children but tend to contribute to the... more » problem by shielding their child from difficult situations. Conversely, parents who are not shy are similarly at a loss and feel exasperated and baffled by their child's shyness. Dr. Ward Swallow addresses both of those situations« less