Almost 3 Year Old - Extreme Shyness

dont say like that, he is not strange but he gets used to people or things after observing and after getting familiar.... if he goes to different day care, then he dint get time to get familiar.... he needs to get familiar to people for longer so that he think they r nice to get familiar, and one more thing he is very cautious. and u said he grandma or aunt, comes every other week, but for how many days they stay with him? if they stay just for few hours and then leave... then he dint get enough time to get familiar. some kids are very cautious, and they observe everything. he is with u guys since he was born, so he know u r his parents so he is active and he loves u guys. so dont think he is odd.... but he is a very care full kid. be happy and u may miss this in future....

it's just his personality. There is nothing wrong with him. I was like that when I was a kid. Loud as can be at home with my family. As soon as we stepped out the door, I did not say a word. In school if I did not like someone or a teacher, I would not talk to them. My 2nd grade teacher, I hated her. She was mean and just horrible. She told my mom that she thought something was wrong with me. My mom told her, nope, she just doesn't like you. To this day, I am still a very quiet person. I don't think I am shy because shy people would not be able to do some of the things I have done before, but I am a very quiet person and that does make people uncomfortable at times. I don't try to be, that's just my personality. Do not push your son. He will be just fine. As long as he does have a friend that he plays with or talks to, then I wouldn't worry about it.

ETA: I agree with the first poster about being called "shy". I really hate that word. Even as an adult, I've had co workers in the past call me "shy" or "akward" to my face, and I seriously loathe that. It seems like people think that being "shy" is a bad thing. He is not shy, he is quiet and observant. I am very observant. I like to people watch. I can feel a persons personality and see if I really click with someone with in a few minutes of meeting them. Your son is very smart. Being quiet, observant, and cautious are all GOOD things. Too many people in the work talk WAY too much and just do things with out thinking. Be happy your son thinks things through :)

My DD has selective mutism. A social anxiety disorder where she cannot speak in public or away from immediate family. She has never spoken to her teachers and only a word or two all year to her classmates. You don't grow out of it and if left to cope with it on their own, can lead to all sorts of maladaptive coping as an adult. Like addiction and agoraphobia. Check out www.selectivemutism.org

Mine is the same. I was told it is crucial not to say shy but "slow to warm up." Can't change their stripes. He is fine as long as he is healthy (eats, sleeps etc well).

That is just part of who is and who he is becoming. My boy (4) is very outgoing and will talk to anyone and as a baby went to everyone, however my girl (just about to turn 2) is the opposite and takes a long time to warm up to people she doesn't know well. In regards to your family visitors, if you don't already I would plan a date with him with Grandma. Let them do something together that he LOVES at the very least he may speak to her when you are not there since he is very excited to get to do something he would'nt normally or he will come away with a positive experience with Grandma while mum and Dad are not there and that should boost his confidence.