How to Raise a Confident Child*

*This is a collaborative post*

 

Raising a confident child is often easier said than done, especially with the pressures of adolescence going against us, including things like social media. However, there are lots of things that parents can do to help improve their child’s confidence, which will go a long way in helping them reach their goals and become successful adults. I have teamed up with a sixth form in Somerset to offer parents some advice on helping their children become more confident.

This probably goes without saying that one of the key ways to raise a confident child is to provide them with a supportive home environment. Unless the child feels safe and comfortable in their own home, around their family, it is unlikely that they will have much self-esteem. So, it’s important to praise your child when they deserve it and avoid being too harsh on them when things don’t go to plan. For instance, if they don’t get the grade you were hoping for in a recent exam, don’t punish them, just remind them that they can learn from their mistakes and do better next time. Let them know that mistakes are inevitable and that most of the time, it’s best not to dwell and, instead, move forward in a positive way.

 

 

Be sure to give them various responsibilities around the house so that they start to develop independence and can feel proud of themselves when they achieve something, as this will help them feel more confident. It could be anything from setting the table before dinner to walking the dog. Congratulate them when they’ve done a good job. Of course, you’ll have to make sure that the responsibilities are age-appropriate and not too challenging, otherwise this will just have the opposite effect.

Another way to help your child become more confident is to encourage them to experience new things and meet new people as often as possible. If they spend the majority of their free time alone in their bedroom, they will probably become quite uncomfortable with social situations and find unfamiliar experiences quite intimidating. Perhaps encourage them to join an extracurricular activity where they can learn a range of key, transferable skills and build strong friendships. Becoming more skilful and creating strong bonds with other people will both contribute to improve confidence.

 

*Header photo source Pexels

*Second photo source

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