Talking to New People: Tips to Help Your Child

Written by: Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP
Originally Published: March 30, 2017 | Updated: August 18, 2026

If your child gets nervous, frustrated, or embarrassed talking to new people, they’re not alone. Conversation is a skill that can absolutely be taught and practiced, just like any other. Breaking a conversation down into small, specific steps gives kids a clear roadmap to follow instead of a vague expectation to “just talk.” Here are eight practical strategies you can start practicing with your child today.

Why Is Talking to New People Hard for Some Kids?

Conversation involves a lot of moving parts happening all at once: body language, eye contact, listening, thinking of a response, and knowing when to wrap things up. Speech-language pathologists refer to these skills together as pragmatic, or social, language.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association notes that they combine language processing with reading social cues and understanding others’ perspectives. For kids who find this overwhelming, having each piece broken into a clear, repeatable step can turn a stressful interaction into something manageable.

8 Steps to Help Your Child Feel Confident Talking to New People

1. Use positive body language. Stand up straight and turn your shoulders toward the person you’re talking to. Confident posture doesn’t just look assured, it can actually help kids feel more assured too.
2. Make eye contact. Looking at the person shows you’re engaged and listening, and it helps the other person feel heard.
3. Start the conversation. Most conversations begin with a simple question or greeting:
   • “Hi, how are you?”
   • “What’s up?”
   • “What have you been up to?”

   Or your child can simply introduce themselves: “Hi, my name is ___.”

4. Speak slowly. Rushing through words can make speech harder to understand and can also feed nervous energy. Slowing down helps your child feel more in control.
5. Speak clearly. Encourage your child to make their speech “crisp and clear” by taking a breath and pausing briefly between ideas, rather than running everything together.
6. Listen to the other person. Conversation is a two-way exchange. Encourage your child to really listen to what the other person says instead of just waiting for their turn to talk.
7. Respond to the topic. Teach your child to say something that connects back to what the other person shared, which keeps the conversation flowing naturally instead of feeling like two separate monologues.
8. End the conversation. When it’s time to wrap up, a simple closing line, like “It was nice talking to you!” or “See you later!”, gives the conversation a clear, comfortable ending.

How Can I Practice These Skills at Home?

• Role-play common scenarios, like meeting a new classmate or greeting a neighbor, before your child needs to do it for real
• Look for low-pressure, real-world chances to practice, such as ordering at a restaurant or saying hello to a family friend
• Practice one or two steps at a time rather than all eight at once
• Model the steps yourself during everyday conversations, so your child sees them in action

When Should I Seek Help?

Some nervousness meeting new people is completely normal for kids. But if your child consistently avoids conversation, struggles significantly more than same-age peers, or these challenges are affecting friendships and school, it may be time to talk with a speech-language pathologist about a social communication evaluation. Support at this stage can make a meaningful difference in your child’s confidence and relationships.

Let’s Build Your Child’s Confidence Together

Try a few of these strategies with your child at home, small, consistent practice adds up. If you feel your child needs more support with conversation or social skills, contact us at ETLC. We would love to help.