“Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.”
Samuel Johnson
This is particularly true for children.
A lack of confidence in children affects their performance in school and life generally.
Self-confident children are usually happier, have better relationships, more energy and determination to take on tasks, are better equipped to deal with peer pressure, and record more success and wins in life,
Research shows that children with high self-confidence perform better at school, and later in life become more successful.
It is therefore mandatory for teachers and parents to develop self-confidence in children
Let me quickly share this…
We had a pupil who performed poorly in school, lacked motivation to take on tasks, and hardly ever interacted with his peers.
His teacher was able to identify the root cause as a lack of self-confidence, and got to work on him immediately (with the help and cooperation of the parents, of course)
These were the steps she took to help grow his self-confidence.
You can use these same steps to help build your child’s confidence too:
Show Unconditional Love
She celebrated his wins, and also showed love and care for every time he made mistakes or poor decisions.
Practice Positive Self-Talk With Them
Through the use of affirmations, she was able to move him from an ‘I can’t’ mentality, to an ‘I’ll try’ mind-set and eventually ‘I CAN’ mentality.
Get Them Involved In Sports
Team sports naturally lead to greater self-confidence, help develop self-esteem, and teach teamwork and leadership skills.
Ask For Your Child’s Advice Or Opinion
You boost your child’s self-confidence by asking her opinion on age-appropriate situations.
This shows you value them and their ideas, and also shows them that it is ok to ask questions or seek help when uncertain.
Teach Them To Set And Achieve Goals
This can be done using the methods we shared in our goal-setting post.
The more successes they record, the more confident they become.
Also remember to encourage and motivate them when they don’t accomplish their goals.
Never Compare Them To Others
Understand that every child has his/her strengths and peculiarities, resist the temptation to compare children to their siblings or classmates.
These comparisons are confidence crashers, and breed self-doubt.
Encourage Them To Try New Things And Develop New Skills
Trying new things and succeeding at them gives them the confidence that they can overcome anything that comes their way
Make Sure They Know You’re Upset With Their Choices, Not With Who They Are
Since it is unavoidable to get be upset with children, ensure you’re direct your criticisms at the action you’re upset with. This helps them understand that it is their choices or actions you’re upset with, not who they are.
There you have it,
using these simple methods, you can transform your child to a super-confident boy/girl
Start today, and begin to notice immense growth in your child’s life as his/her self-confidence skyrockets!
