Confidence is an integral part of a child’s health and wellbeing, and a key element of their success. It helps them understand their strengths and have pride in themselves, while also dealing with situations outside of their comfort zone. Parents should help their children become more confident, using the following tips and advice from a prep school in Somerset
Give Positive Feedback
Consider your attitude and the language you use around your child. Positive terminology and encouragement will go a long way in helping your child become more confident. For instance, if they study really hard for a test but get a bad grade, rather than saying things like “That’s so disappointing, where did you go wrong?” say something like “Don’t be too hard on yourself, I am so proud of you for trying your best, there’s always next time”. The idea is to focus on where they went right, rather than what they did wrong, and remind them that all human beings make mistakes sometimes.
Giving positive feedback and promoting a growth mindset will encourage your child to strive to be the best they can be, even when they are faced with setbacks. On the other hand, if you focus on the negatives, your child will start to become insecure and will tend to give up before they’ve even started.
Encourage Personal Opinions
When chatting to your child, try and ask them what their opinions are and allow them to make their own decisions. This will help them feel like a valued member of your family and give them the courage to voice their thoughts and feelings. Let them know that it’s ok to have a different view on something, as that’s what makes us unique.
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Another way to make them feel valued and respected within your home is to give them achievable tasks to do on a regular basis. This could be anything from setting the table at dinnertime, to mowing the lawn (if they’re old enough). Once they’ve completed a task successfully, praise and thank them for their efforts. Having responsibilities around the house will show your child that they can be trusted and can also achieve anything they set their mind to.
Suggest Extra-Curricular Activities
Encouraging your child to pursue their interests outside of school will help them develop a sense of self, while also improving a range of skills. As we become more proficient at certain things, our confidence increases, which is one of the reasons why extra-curricular activities are so beneficial for young people. For instance, if they learn an instrument and perform in front of a crowd, they will receive praise and applause which will give them a sense of pride. If they win a football match, they will experience a similar sense of pride.
What’s more, extra-curricular activities will be an opportunity for them to make friends with like-minded people, enabling them to become more confident in social situations.
If you are genuinely concerned about your child’s lack of confidence, get in touch with their teachers as they will be able to help you in your pursuit to improve the situation.