For all people, confidence comes in many forms. Internally, there are physical and emotional confidence and self-confidence. On the outside, it could be the belief in having confidence in others. Having high self-esteem can be the ticket to a lifetime of physical and social health and happiness for your child.
At all ages, having confidence in yourself – and also others – will lead to positive outcomes in all areas of life. Here are a few tips to instill confidence in your child:
1. Project Positivity
The images you reflect on your child are important. Are they positive or negative? Not only do positive reflections allow children to think positively about themselves, but they also set up the times when you need to instill discipline. If your reflection is less positive than usual, they’ll understand something is unusual and change their behavior.
2. Positive Yet Realistic
It’s important to project positive images to instill confidence in your child, yet you need to be authentic and realistic. Children are smart enough to see through fake cheerfulness. They understand their parents are human and some days are better than others.
3. Be Aware Of Your Own Self-Confidence
Confident parents tend to produce confident children. And certain traits are passed on from generation to generation through upbringing. Think about the things your parents did to both strengthen and weaken your self-confidence. By understanding your own confidence journey as a child, you’ll be more aware of what you’re passing on.
4. Instilling Confidence Through Play
Playing with your child reinforces the idea that they are valuable and they are worthy of your time. Their self-worth strengthens if they see mom and dad enjoy and embrace their interests. Encouraging your child to participate in sports, dance, music or any other activity they choose – in addition to free playtime – will help them develop a variety of skills and watch their self-confidence grow.
5. Linking Physical Activity And Confidence
Positive early sporting experiences are important to self-confidence development and understanding of a healthy lifestyle. The ability to learn new things in a social setting while getting exercise helps children physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Whether it’s setting a personal best or achieving something positive in a team setting, some structured physical activity coupled with playtime will lead to a more confident child. But it’s important to remember to keep the unstructured fun or playtime in the mix as well. Over-programming your child can have an adverse effect.
Sources:
Loop of Confidence: http://loopofconfidence.com/six-reasons-why-confidence-leads-to-success/
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/smart-moves/201408/do-sports-and-other-physical-activities-build-self-esteem
Solve a Problem: http://solveaproblem.com/how-to-stop-overprogramming-kids/
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