Kids deal with a number of challenging situations, because everything is brand new. Inexperience breeds insecurity simply because the kids don't know how to proceed without guidance. Parents need to figure out how to teach kids the confidence they need to proceed through life and face each new situation with the belief that they can get through it.
Celebrate Accomplishment
Self-confidence often comes from a child's competence. When a kid can do something, and proves that to themselves, they gain more confidence than if a parent has verbally told them they are doing a good job. While it's nice to hear words of encouragement, the words must be directed toward a specific act completed by the child. No matter what action the child has completed, whether they learned to tie their shoe or climb a tree, their sense of self as a capable person increases with each encouraging word.
Start Early
Self-confidence begins at the earliest stages. When a child learns to pick up objects or turn a book's pages, they begin to grasp the fact that they can do things for themselves. Confidence increases as parents continuously congratulate children at every stage of development. Giving children plenty of chances to practice skills while letting kids make mistakes is all part of building confidence. Kids need to make mistakes to learn, and they need to understand that mistakes are OK. Responding with interest and excitement when a child demonstrates a new skill will build the child's self image and confidence.
Learning from Mistakes Is Okay
As kids age, it's important to allow mistakes to happen. Keep kids safe, but help them figure out a new skill by backing away and allowing for mistakes to happen. Learning comes from this opportunity, as does an improved self-image when the task is completed successfully.
Persistence
Keep up the praise as well. Encourage persistence despite setbacks. Kids will learn that obstacles are something to be overcome and that success comes with many tries. When kids reach goals, praise the success as well as the journey. Remind the child that their willingness to keep trying is part of the process and make them proud for never giving up.
Parents have many chances to increase a child's confidence and help them become responsible adults. The end goal is to raise a child who can confidently move through life successfully, and this process begins at a young age. Children do well if they learn how to change the things about themselves that they don't like that are within their power to change, but only when coupled with the ability to accept and even appreciate the things about themselves that they don't like and cannot change. For instance, a child won't be able to dramatically change how tall they are—and they can learn to appreciate that. If they don't love their smile; however, they can work to consistently properly care for their teeth or ask dentists like the Calgary orthodontists at Forest Lawn Dental Centre to help them out. Begin praise early, continue to let kids make mistakes and keep words of encouragement coming to raise confident kids.