How to Teach Children Confidence
It's been said no one is born with confidence, one only learns how to make it appear as though they have it. Raising children to have as much confidence as possible is a great goal. Here are some steps to help teach your child confidence, but understand that each child is different and environment plays a big part in how well they learn.
Instructions
Communicate with her from birth. Don't limit yourself to "goo-goo, ga-ga," but speaking to your child as you would an adult. She will learn to talk to other adults as well as children by how you talk to her. Knowing how to talk to an adult as a child builds confidence and many other skills. Teach him respect for others and good manners. Don't go overboard and demand he act like a palace guard. Show him how to shake hands with adults when introduced. Explain why you put rules into place, such as not eating with his hands or running around the restaurant. Respect for others also teaches him to know how he should be treated, which will implant confidence. Be sure she understands that sometimes she must demand respect. Many people, especially adults, do not show respect for children. For reasons unfathomable, there are some adults who think children are inferior or incapable of thought. If your child knows she should be respected and doesn't tolerate people who do not respect her, she will have more confidence in herself and it will show. Teach him to question someone if he feels it is necessary. Just because someone is a doctor or a teacher certainly doesn't mean they're always right. If he knows this as fact, he won't sit back and whine about that bad grade when he knows he made all A's on his tests and homework. He will be confident in approaching his teacher to ask why he got a C when he should have had an A+. Compliment, encourage and praise, but tell her when she is wrong, too. Never fail to praise her because she will feel her efforts are in vain if you don't acknowledge them. A parent's approval is the most important thing in the world to her and knowing she has it gives her belief in her capabilities. However, if you feel she is wrong about something, don't soft-soap it. Knowing and admitting when she is wrong is all part of learning confidence. Set an example and show him how to laugh and make jokes at his own expense. Not only is laughing good for the soul, but being able to laugh at himself shows he is comfortable with himself. If you can do it, he will learn from you. This quality will teach him to be confident in himself and help alleviate problems when a bully might decide to try intimidation tactics. Join in their efforts. If they're right, show them by standing beside them. If she tells you they are enforcing a dress code at school and feels they are wrong, talk with her about it. If you feel she is right in her reasoning, help her start a petition or write a letter to the school board. This will teach her communication, reasoning skills, confidence and how to have diplomatic discussions, all of which instill confidence. Don't belittle his complaints. Discuss them and play devil's advocate so he can learn to look at things from a different perspective. This is a key element in building confidence.
