No doubt, confidence is one of the greatest gift parents can give their children.
A child who lacks confidence will be very reluctant to try new or challenging things because they are scared of failing and disappointing others.
Moreover, as children grow, confidence can be as important and useful as other life-skills.
To succeed, children need to trust their guts and their own capabilities, knowing they can handle the tasks they undertake.
Always know that, it is by experiencing, and improving from failure that they are able to develop healthy self-confidence.
Self-confidence can be your child’s passport to a lifetime of mental stability and social happiness. It can also be the foundation of your child’s well-being as an adult.
Therefore raising a confident child, simply means that they have a realistic understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
Nevertheless, here are 9 tips to help you raise a confident child.
- MODEL CONFIDENCE YOURSELF AND BE A POSITIVE MIRROR
As a parent, setting a good example is one of the key to raising a confident child.
However, setting a good example for your child doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be perfect. It means you should always acknowledge your concerns, but do not focus on it more than the positive things you do.
Instead, use it to teach them what you know, how you think, act and speak.
Most times, children can learn much about themselves from their parents’ reactions, that’s even more reason you should always share how you feel about them as often as possible.
Furthermore, let your children know that their opinions and desires matter a lot to you.
Being a positive reflection for your children can help them learn to think well of themselves and they will willingly rely on you to tell them when their behaviour isn’t pleasing.
This can become a discipline tool for you.
In addition, always make effort to talk about your skills, talents and the effort you put in to achieve certain accomplishments. It can go a long way in building their confidence.
- ENCOURAGE THEIR TALENT
Every child has what he or she is best at.
Discover it and encourage it.
You can help practice whatever it is they’re interested in but do not put too much pressure on them.
Most times, showing interest in and enjoying the display of a child’s talents or skill can help build on a child’s self-image and confidence.
As a matter of fact, helping your child develop their talents, acquire new skills and find their passion is a part of discipline and it encourages self-confidence.
- ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITIES AND GIVE THEM NEW CHALLENGES.
Children like doing one or two things themselves.
They may complain, but kids feel more valued when they are expected to do some age-appropriate jobs, like arranging their toys, doing dishes, picking up a younger sibling from a play date, even homework, or after-school activities.
You can give daily challenges that gradually increase their responsibilities each time. Show them that they can make and accomplish small goals to reach bigger accomplishments.
When children learn to take small risks, they learn the importance of courage and it can help increase their level of self-confidence.
- TREAT MISTAKES AS BUILDING BLOCKS FOR LEARNING.
Learning from mistakes can help build confidence in children. But this can only happen when you, as a parent, treat mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Instead of nagging or yelling, you can tactically turn mistakes into avenues to teach them.
Also, avoid being over-protective of your child. Allow them mess up and help them understand how they can better approach the task next time without fear of failing.
Besides, confident people don’t let fear of failure get in their way, and a confident child learns from failure and overcomes it.
- ENCOURAGE THEM TO EXPRESS AND NOT STUFF THEIR FEELINGS
Make them understand that expressing themselves comfortably without hiding their feeling is very important.
This can help them balance the difference between eventually lashing out and controlling their feelings.
More so, a child who finds it difficult to express emotions or feelings may become too shy or too reserved and this can tell on his confidence and self-image
- APPRECIATE EFFORT AND GIVE PRAISES WHERE DUE
Appreciating your child for their achievement is a great start.
Also, it is very important to let them know you are proud of their effort no matter how little it is.
Always let them know you value the work they’re doing-whether it is as little as toddlers building with blocks or helping out with chores.
Try to celebrate effort and praise them even if they win or lose, they should never feel embarrassed for anything.
It can help build up self-confidence and kill shyness.
- FANTASIZE ABOUT THE FUTURE
If kids can imagine themselves doing something important and very big or fulfilling when they go up, they are bound to feel more confident.
Talk to your child about how you or your spouse succeeded, about choosing a career and his big dreams, talk about how to accomplish them.
All these go a long way in building their confidence. Even if he changes his mind later about his choice of career, the most important thing is that he is thinking of his goals and do not lower his expectations.
- NEVER DISSUADE THEIR PERFORMANCE
Nothing can discourage your child more than bluntly dissuading their effort.
Give an appropriate feedback and make relevant suggestions but never dismissively criticize them for doing a bad job.
Instead, correct them and point out their mistakes, because harsh parental criticism and dismissal of their effort can reduce a child’s self-esteem, motivation and confidence.
- PLAY AND RELATE TOGETHER
Nothing feels more special for your kid than coming down on the floor or going outside just to have fun with them.
You will learn a lot about your child and yourself during play time. More so, play time helps you pass the message ‘‘you are worth my time’’.
No doubt, children learn a lot through play. It can help improve their behaviour by giving them the feeling of importance and accomplishment. Use playtime to make an investment in your child’s behaviour.
Let your child initiate the play, it holds their attention longer than the one you bring up. This little time with your child can boost their confidence.
On a final note…
Don’t forget children live by example, so point out positive role models in the society for them to emulate.
