12 Ways to Raise Self-Confidence in Your Kids

Like adults, children also have struggles of their own. Because children are growing at such a rapid pace, there are a lot of adjustments and changes taking place in their lives. Not only that but parents and teachers also tend to have very high expectations from their children. It's very difficult for a child to absorb everything going on around them and healthily deal with them without any guidance and support. So, as a parent, it is important to understand how you can help build self-confidence in your child and why it is important. 

Why Self-Esteem is important?

One of the core things we can all agree on as parents is that developing self-confidence in a child is very important. It is one of the cornerstones of living a mentally healthy life. Building self-confidence in children allows them to be brave and reach out to try new things in life. Without even knowing it, children develop a positive feeling of self-worth in themselves that subsequently helps them overcome failures in their lives.  

How does Self-confidence develop?

Parents play a major role in the development of their child’s self-confidence. While a child considers the parent to be a role model, there are other practices that the parent can exercise to help their child build self-confidence. Being consistent with these practices and creating a safe environment for the child will help them grow into confident individuals. 

How Parents can help Children build self-confidence?

Your child must believe they can do whatever they set their mind to. Unfortunately for many children, that's not always the case. You can be the best parent and role guide for your child because, as children grow up, they learn about who they are and much of this comes from their parent's vision of them. 

Also, any habit or lesson that is taught at a young age usually sticks with a child for life. It's best to begin preparing your child how to develop self-confidence from a young age rather than making them figure it out all on their own when they get older. Your positive influence and knowledge as to how to interact with your child will help you to build a bond that cannot be broken. 

Know that you do have options and there is knowledge out there that will help you achieve your goal of improving self-confidence in your child. They deserve the right upbringing that enables them with important personality traits.

1. Model confidence in yourself

Children look up to their parents and responsible people in their lives. It is up to you as a parent to set a positive example and to provide them with direction. In the end, the goal is to make sure that they grow up to become successful individuals with a positive outlook on life and learn good morals.

2. Don’t get upset about mistakes

Children understand and communicate things differently than adults do. Although you were also a child once, it can be difficult to recall just how it felt to be very young.

Hence, learning exactly what to say to your child when they are having a bad day is important. Focus more on knowing how you can get through to your child, even when they refuse to listen. Be a nurturing parent and nurture a comfortable relationship with your child.

3. Encourage them to try new things

If you want to know how to build up confidence in a child, then you have to let them take healthy risks. To help them build self-esteem and confidence, you must stand back and let your child take chances, make decisions, and start taking responsibility for their actions. Avoid rescuing your kid from failures and let them solve their problems.

4. Allow kids to fail

Many parents believe that if they push their children to become better people, they will excel beyond all expectations. You, as a parent, may hope that one day you might get to sit back and be proud of your child's accomplishments. Sadly, your child may be unable to reach their full potential because of the type of parenting they were forced to endure.

Hence, focus on learning how to retrain your child from making mistakes that will negatively affect them in the long run. Have confidence in your child and encourage them to do better but do not force them.

5. Praise perseverance

One of the main methods of building self-confidence in children includes giving them space and stepping back. Instead of heaping praise on them, you have to let the child take risks, make their own decisions, solve problems, and stick to whatever task they start.

6. Help kids find their passion

When it comes to how to build up confidence in a child, encouraging them to pursue their interests helps boost their confidence. Once you understand what they are interested in, you must ensure that they follow their interests to completion. It can be anything like swimming laps or taking up a dance class, encouraging your child to pursue their passions and have fun. Stick with them through their interests, so that they feel a sense of accomplishment in the end.

7. Set goals

As mentioned before, letting your child make their own choices and decisions is important when it comes to building self-confidence in children. When kids make their choices, they feel confident and start considering the consequences of their decisions. It can be simple tasks like choosing what outfits they want to wear, that can raise their self-confidence levels.

8. Celebrate the effort

Excessive praise and showering your child with compliments can do more harm than good. Self-confidence comes from feeling secure and loved, and it develops competence as well.

Overpraising your children can be harmful because you may be setting a low bar for them. For instance, if you keep telling them that they are doing a fantastic job at performing menial tasks, they won’t see the need to push themselves. You have to let your child try things on their own, fail, and try again. The key to building self-confidence in a child comes from practice and effort.

9. Expect them to pitch in

When it comes to building self-confidence in a child, you have to provide them with opportunities to showcase their competence and allow them to feel that their contribution is valued in the house. Some household tasks that kids can help with include setting the table, cooking, and making their beds.

10. Embrace imperfection

Many parents believe that if they push their children to become better people, they will excel beyond all expectations. You, as a parent, may hope that one day you might get to sit back and be proud of your child's accomplishments. Sadly, your child may be unable to reach their full potential because of the type of parenting they were forced to endure.

Hence, focus on learning how to retrain your child from making mistakes that will negatively affect them in the long run. Have confidence in your child and encourage them to do better but do not force them.

11. Set them up for success

One of the main methods of building self-confidence in children includes giving them space and stepping back. Instead of heaping praise on them, you have to let the child take risks, make their own decisions, solve problems, and stick to whatever task they start.

12. Show your love 

Let your children know that you love them unconditionally, this will help in building self-confidence in children. Support them even when they fail or make bad decisions. Avoid praising them only when they perform well in academics or extracurriculars because they will assume that you only love them during their peak moments and not during their failures.

FAQs

What causes a lack of confidence in a child?

There are various reasons why a child may have low self-confidence. A few include being bullied, performing poorly in competitions or academics, being pressurized by teachers and parents, experiencing trauma, and more.

How can a shy child gain confidence?

A few practices to help a shy child gain confidence include-

• Talk to them and let them know you love them.
• Avoid putting any pressure on them academically and athletically.
• Be a good and confident role model to them.
• Have occasional conversations with them about values, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Let them know that they can be more confident. 
• Make sure they are surrounded by positive people.
• Take help from an expert in building your child’s self-confidence.

Why is self-confidence in child development important?

Self-esteem or self-confidence is paramount to child development. It creates a strong foundation allowing children to cope with their mistakes, explore new interests, and more. 

How to increase self-confidence?

Our experts suggest the following techniques to increase self-confidence-

• Letting your child take risks 
• Creating a positive environment 
• Acknowledging and appreciating their effort 

What age can children show low self-confidence?

Children between the ages of 6 and 11 tend to struggle with low self-confidence. They become more aware of their strengths and weaknesses and compare themselves with others.