These things will help you raise a more confident child says a psychologist
A kid with low self-esteem won’t feel confident about trying something new. A lack of confidence means they’ll be hesitant to try new things because they fear failure or disappointment. Parents can help kids overcome their fears by encouraging them to try new things and giving them positive feedback when they succeed.
“The enemies of confidence are discouraging and fearful thoughts,” he says. As a parent, it’s important to help your children overcome those feelings of doubt and insecurity. Encourage them to try new things, even if you think they’re going to fail. If they succeed, praise them. And when they stumble, give them a hug.
- Don’t compare yourself to others. Your success will not come from comparing yourself to other people. You may think that you need to be like someone else to succeed. But that isn’t true. You will succeed when you focus on what you want to achieve instead of worrying about what others are doing.
- Be kind to everyone. No matter who you are, there is always someone who needs help. If you see someone struggling, offer them a helping hand. Even if you aren’t sure if they can accept your help, try anyway.
- Learn something new every day. Whether it’s reading a book, watching a movie, listening to music, or playing an instrument, learning something new everyday helps keep your brain sharp.
“Over time, consistently working towards goals will lead to greater success than intermittent effort,” says Dr. John Gottman. “It’s important to encourage children to practice what they love.” Practice doesn’t need to mean perfecting every skill. Instead, focus on developing skills that are useful in real life. For example, if you enjoy playing video games, then spend time improving your game play. If you like art, then draw pictures and paint. If you love music, then listen to songs and sing along. Whatever your passion, there’s something you can do today to start making progress.
“Practicing doesn’t just help kids become skilled at what they’re doing,” says Pickhardt. “It also helps them gain confidence.” When parents get involved early, children feel like they can succeed, even if they haven’t mastered the skill yet. And when they see their parents struggling along with them, they start to realize that they can do it too. Kids who practice with their parents tend to be more successful later in life, because they’ve learned to overcome obstacles.
Children should not be forced to achieve high grades at school. Instead, they should be allowed to enjoy themselves while still doing their best. If they get a few B’s and a couple of As, then that’s great!
Children should always be encouraged to ask questions. This helps them understand the world around them and allows them to explore ideas. Asking questions also encourages children to think about what they already know and what they need to learn next.
Children who grow up in homes that encourage curiosity tend to be better learners. Parents and teachers often tell them to ask questions when they’re confused about something. Curiosity helps kids understand what they see and hear, and it also helps them remember what they learned. Kids who are curious are less likely to get bored while doing homework. They also tend to pay attention in class and listen to instructions.
