<p>Quote: "When my kids were little, I got them used to dealing with "store people" by letting them give their order (at McDs) and giving the money. If they needed to order again later, I would give them the $$$ and have them go up by themselves, order and get the item....
It's also important to get kids "used" to using the phone properly.... calling businesses and asking if they have....(whatever). Or, if they are calling a friends home and the parent answers, my kids are to politely IDENTIFY themselves and ask for the kid..... They are not to just say "Can I speak to XXXXX" (if the parent may not know my kid, they are to say something like, This is JJJJ, I'm in YYYY's class at school, may I speak to him/her."</p>
<p>These are all good ideas for many kids, but for a painfully shy child, doing these things can feel terrifying. For such a child, encouragement has to be coupled with understanding and a tolerance for a much longer time span in which such skills may develop. My very shy daughter used to have her much younger brother ask for things for her in a restaurant. Dealing with strangers on the phone was difficult for her even in early adolescence. But at age 23, she's a competent young woman who has "grown into herself", and is able to handle life's social demands extremely well.</p>