I agree JohT, playgroups are great! Even if your child just sits there and watches the other kids play that's ok, they learn a lot from observation. It's also a wonderful time to chat to other mums who are probably just as shy/antisocial as yourself. If the playgroup has a routine: inside play/storytime/fruit-time/out-side play (like mine) then this can be a great preparation for kinder/daycare. Finally i think it's really good for young children to watch you as an adult meet and talk to new people. It will teach your child to have the confidence to be social Lastly, it will even boost your child's immune system as they mix with others. This is actually a good thing, frustrating at first, but better in the long run.