Tracey Perchard, St Saviour, Jersey

I am sorry to hear about your miscarriage and the loss of your child. It is perfectly understandable that you should feel more than usually protective of your children. I hope that I can reassure you, though, that your daughter’s shyness is normal for a child of this age.

The key is to build her confidence, so give her plenty of praise when she achieves things. She may appreciate activities with tangible results, such as baking biscuits together. Also, notice what she’s good at. Perhaps she can draw lovely pictures or play imaginatively with her toys, so tell her that she’s good at these things and praise her for them. At night, tell her what she will be doing the following day.

At the age of 3, children tend to play alongside rather than with others. Perhaps you could help her to feel more comfortable with her peers by asking her who she likes at nursery and invite that child or children to play at your house. Spending time with another important person in her life, such as a grandparent, will help to develop your daughter’s confidence and she will learn that she can cope, and have fun, without needing you close by all the time.

Disorder dilemma

My son is 6 years old and takes insulin injections for diabetes. He has trouble getting dressed, riding bikes, he can’t tie shoelaces and his handwriting is unreadable. Could he have dyspraxia? He is 4ft 6in (I am 5ft 6in and his dad is 5ft 7in) and weighs 9st.

Mrs Poole, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees

Your son has a complicated range of problems and sounds tall and heavy for his age, given the height of you and his father. It would be good for him to have a thorough examination to rule out any underlying condition that might link these symptoms. I think he would benefit from being assessed by a paediatric endocrinologist, who specialises in dealing with problems connected with endocrine glands and hormones.

If underlying medical problems are ruled out, dyspraxia, which is a developmental problem, is a possibility. Talk to your GP, who may refer you to a paediatrician. For information, contact the Dyspraxia Foundation, www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

Jane Collins is the chief executive and honorary consultant paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital

OVER TO YOU

E-mail Dr Jane Collins at drjane@thetimes.co.uk or write to her at Body&Soul, The Times, 1 Pennington Street, E98 ITT. Please include your name, address and telephone number. Dr Collins cannot enter into individual correspondence.