Building your child’s confidence is vital for your success in school and life. A confident child can make their own choices, know it’s okay to make mistakes, and explore their interests freely.
Confidence is a good character trait to have as an individual. Confident people approach life without fear because they believe in themselves. It is only natural as a parent to want your child to grow up being bold. There are many ways to build confidence in your child. One way that is often overused is praise. Praising or complimenting your child is okay, but overdoing it can cause more harm than good. Teachers will tell you that kids become more confident when they learn and complete new tasks independently. Therefore, it is safe to say that the more competent a child feels, the more confident they are. Below are a few ways you can help your child become more confident.
1) Explore their interests
Encouraging a child to find and do what they like will give them a sense of identity. Having a sense of identity is vital in boosting their self-esteem. For example, if your child wants to paint, encourage them to grow in their talents and interests. Frame their paintings and encourage them to explore different colors and painting materials.
2) It’s okay to make mistakes
Don’t get upset or angry about little mistakes. Your child needs to understand at a young age that perfection is not the goal. When kids start attending preschool and learn how to color, they don’t always do it within the lines. Nevertheless, teachers at international schools in Surat will put a big red tick on their paper with a smiley face on the side with a note saying “good job!” Kids don’t always get it right the first time, and that’s okay.
It would be best if you also tried as hard as you can not to improve on or fix what your child has done. This will undermine their confidence and build doubt in their skills, affecting them in the long-term. You also deny the child a chance to learn independently. Avoid constant interference when you give your child a task, and this will build their confidence.
3) Give them small tasks around the house
Kids dread chores, but when presented as an opportunity to show their skills, it’s a great way to build their confidence. For example, if your child enjoys organizing things, you can task them with tidying up the play area and putting toys back in their place. If they like getting their hands dirty, they can help with gardening. Because they are children, sometimes they will not want to do a particular chore even though they like it. That will be a good time to lead by example and do the tasks together. You can tidy up one side as they work on the other. Every job they complete is a step further in boosting their self-esteem.
4) Allow kids to make their own choices
Giving kids a chance to decide what they want teaches them to take responsibility for their choices. They also get to understand the consequences of their decisions. This teaches children to trust in themselves when they make major life decisions in the future. For example, if your child already understands the difference between cold and warm, let them decide whether to wear a coat or gloves when stepping out. Kids feel more powerful and in control when allowed to make such small decisions about their life which boosts their self-esteem.
5) Show your kids unconditional love
When a parent is always focused on the outcome, a child will feel pressure to perform to get your approval, praise, and love. They will start to feel like you only love them when they are perfect or when they live up to your standards. Such environments can cause serious emotional and mental damage to a child. Love your child through all their failures and bad decisions. Don’t make them feel like they have to earn your love. Let them know and show them that you will always love them no matter what.
You should also avoid comparing your kids to their older siblings, peers, or relatives you think are doing better. The bottom line is that there will always be people who do better. Love your child and teach them to love themselves, too, and appreciate their differences.
6) Encourage them and teach them to encourage themselves
All humans need encouragement from time to time. It is easy for kids to get frustrated when they do something, and the result is not what they expect. If you are used to criticizing your child, subconsciously, they already believe that they can’t do something and that failure proves them right. One way to encourage a positive attitude and motivate your child is by repeating mantras like practice makes progress or I can do anything! When they cannot figure out why their block building keeps falling, tell them to take a break and try again.
Remember always to give credit where it’s due. If your child does something well, it is okay to compliment them and make them proud of their accomplishments. When they put in a reasonable effort, pat them on their back for it. Taking the first step is still a great accomplishment for someone who couldn’t walk.
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