A confident child is one who is comfortable in social situations, capable of handling setbacks and motivated to take risks. Ultimately, confidence determines whether a child is successful in school and feeling fulfilled. As a result, there’s no wonder parents want to help their children become more confident. A prep school in the South West have put together the following advice to help make this happen.
First of all, you will need to give your child enough independence that they are able to learn to have faith in their own abilities, while ensuring they still feel supported. In other words, help them find their own two feet without letting them feel like they’re alone in their endeavours. Home is their safe space to experiment and make mistakes without judgement, so give them some problem-solving tasks to try without your help. This could be something as simple as asking them to tidy their toys away in an organised fashion. Praise your child when they successfully complete these tasks.
You should also encourage your child to engage in activities out of the house, without you. This could be some sort of extra-curricular activity or community work, which will allow your child to meet new people and develop new skills. Children who spend a lot of time doing solitary activities will not develop the confidence to talk to people and comfortably voice their thoughts.
Try and help your child experience new things on a regular basis, so that they start to learn that nothing is as scary as it first seems. The idea is to show them that the world is a big place, full of wonders, and there’s more to life than what goes on within the four walls of your home.
When something goes wrong, like your child doesn’t get the grade they were hoping for on a test, refrain from criticising them. Instead, focus on the fact that they tried their best and there’s always a next time. Remind them that all human beings make mistakes sometimes and that the best thing we can do is learn from them rather than dwell on them. A positive attitude is key to raising an optimistic child – one who is confident about the future.
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