Instilling confidence in young children helps them develop their social skills and a sense of self-worth. When we feel good about ourselves it shows; situations seem easier to handle and we communicate in a more upbeat and positive manner. That positivity can spread to others. Smiles are contagious!
Children need to feel validated and loved. Their parents’ positive reinforcement and encouragement helps them gain confidence, and once they are in school, educators and peers also influence their self-worth. How children feel affects how children act.
Model Confidence
Our children are in tune with our actions, so what we feel and perceive can influence our children. A positive self-image provides a strong example to children and helps them feel good about the world. Since children can mirror our behavior, we need to lead by example and model confidence. Bad days happen, and sometimes we feel overwhelmed or down for no reason. When we feel unhappy, it is a good idea to remind children that challenges are a part of life, and we feel happy and fulfilled on most days. If we aren’t happy, we owe it to ourselves and our children to seek out ways to feel fulfilled and joyful, which may include reading, meditating, exercising or listening to music.
Instill a Positive Self-Image
Parents influence their children’s sense of self-worth. Our children should like who they are and feel comfortable in their own skins. Children should feel as though their voices will be heard and as though they can make a difference in the world. We help them develop a healthy sense of self-worth by acknowledging their strengths and the qualities that make them unique. Everyone seeks praise and responds positively to compliments. Children develop a positive self-image when their parents acknowledge their strengths, trust in their abilities and see mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth.
Know Your Child’s Friends and Their Parents
The people around us can affect how we act. Our values may differ from other parents’ and children’s values. Part of our job as parents is to get to know our children’s friends and their parents, and observe any behavioral changes in our children, positive or negative. We can’t always choose who our children befriend, but we can encourage them to play with children who will make them happy. Make time to talk to other parents at your school’s drop-off or pick-up times. Talk to your children about their play dates, and pay attention to their attitudes afterward. Are they smiling and excited about the fun they had, or are they withdrawn?
Express, Don’t Suppress, Feelings
Children need to be able to express how they feel, but also able to control their tempers. Suppressing feelings does not help children deal with the issue and keeps them from learning how to communicate effectively with others. Finding the right balance is difficult, but if we model healthy ways to talk about our feelings, children will learn how to express how they feel in a mature, controlled and age-appropriate manner.
Build Confidence with The Goddard School
At The Goddard School, our talented teachers collaborate with parents to nurture children into respectful, confident and joyful learners. We are committed to teaching children about compassion, cooperation and the significance of giving back to their community. We pride ourselves in collaborating with the best educational and child development organizations to provide children with the skills they need for long-term success in school and life.
