Confidence is extremely important because it determines how successful and happy you will be in life. We should build confidences in our kids so that they will believe that they can be successful and happy individuals.
There are a variety of ways on how you can build your child’s confidence.
15 Tips to Raise A Confident Child
1. Allow Mistakes
Kids frequently make mistakes and people say it’s a good opportunity for them to learn. This fact is extremely true. Rather than discouraging your child every time he or she makes a mistake, continue supporting or teach them.
2. Resist Rescuing
Every time your child is in a predicament, stop yourself from rescuing him or her. Let them figure out how they can solve the issue, no matter how difficult it is. Not only will this help them build confidence but independence as well.
3. Let Them Use Their JUDGMENT
Allow your kids to make their own decisions because they will gain confidence in doing so. Obviously do not give too much authority as this will raise a spoiled brat but just give them simple choices. For example: when its snack time, ask them “ would you like to eat a banana for snack or strawberries.
4. Compliment
Complimenting is anyone is a good way to boost their confidence and self-esteem. Whenever you notice that your child has done something admirable, give them a solid compliment. However, avoid constant complimenting at times because your child will feel like he or she is doing an excellent job even when putting limited or no effort.
5. Stop Promoting Perfection
If your child makes mistakes, that’s completely fine. Just let he or she learn from It however avoid constant critiquing. This is because kids are more sensitive so they will take things more personally and it will lower their confidence. Nothing has to be perfect; at least your child is putting effort into improvement.
6. Give them new challenges
Show your child that they can make and accomplish small goals to reach a big accomplishment — like riding a bike without training wheels.
“Parents can nurture confidence by increasing responsibilities that must be met,” Pickhardt explains.
7. Avoid creating short cuts or making exceptions for your child
Special treatment can communicate a lack of confidence, Pickhardt says. “Entitlement is no substitute for confidence.”
8. Never criticize their performance
Nothing will discourage your child more than criticizing his or her efforts. Giving useful feedback and making suggestions is fine — but never tell them they’re doing a bad job.
If your kid is scared to fail because they worry you’ll be angry or disappointed, they’ll never try new things.
“More often than not, parental criticism reduces the child’s self-valuing and motivation,” says Pickhardt.
9. Treat mistakes as building blocks for learning
“Learning from mistakes builds confidence,” he says. But this only happens when you, as a parent, treat mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Don’t be over-protective of your child. Allow them to mess up every now and then, and help them understand how they can better approach the task next time.
Pickhardt says parents should see “uh-oh” moments as an opportunity to teach their kids not to fear failure.
10. Open the door to new experiences
Pickhardt says you, as a parent, have a responsibility to “increase life exposures and experiences so the child can develop confidence in coping with a larger world.”
Exposing children to new things teaches them that no matter how scary and different something seems, they can conquer it.
11. Teach them what you know how to do
You are your child’s hero — at least until they’re a teenager.
Use that power to teach them what you know about how to think, act, and speak. Set a good example, and be a role model.
Pickhardt says watching you succeed will help your child be more confident that they can do the same.
12. Don’t tell them when you’re worried about them
Parental worry can often be interpreted by the child as a vote of no confidence, he says. “Expressing parental confidence engenders the child’s confidence.”
13. Praise them when they deal with adversity
Life is not fair. It’s hard, and every child will have to learn that at some point.
When they do encounter hardships, Pickhardt says parents should point out how enduring these challenges will increase their resilience.
It’s important to remind your child that every road to success is filled with setbacks, he adds.
14. Offer your help and support, but not too much of it
Giving too much assistance too soon can reduce the child’s ability for self-help, says Pickhardt.
“Making parental help contingent on the child’s self-help first can build confidence.”
15. Applaud their courage to try something new
Whether it’s trying out for the travel basketball team or going on their first roller coaster, Pickhardt says parents should praise their kids for trying new things. He suggests saying something as simple as, “You are brave to try this!”
“Comfort comes from sticking to the familiar; courage is required to dare the new and different,” he says.