5 ways to cultivate confidence in children

Confidence contributes to a lifetime of resilience, determination, and accomplishments for children. It is the foundation of children’s development and the key to success as they mature into adults. Confident children are resilient and better equipped to deal with setbacks, frustrations, and challenges, which are all part of their learning journey. As parents and educators, confidence is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Read on to discover 5 ways to help your child cultivate confidence.

1. Focus on strengths

As educators, we know how important it is to address gaps and weaknesses in children. Acknowledging their strengths is just as important as addressing their weaknesses, so ensure that you are paying attention to what your child excels at and enjoys. Whether it’s a hobby or a subject at school, focusing on strengths enables children to feel good about themselves and helps foster confidence.

2. Mentorship

Confidence doesn’t come easy to every child. Some children are naturally more confident than others, which is why seeking additional or external support, such as a mentor or role model, can help your child cultivate confidence. Mentorship is a great way to provide children with educational and personal support, with the aim of boosting their confidence and self-esteem. Mentors are understanding of their mentees, and they can be particularly beneficial for children who lack confidence, or those who are shy and reserved.

3. New challenges

Parents instinctively protect their children and try to keep them safe, which is why they can be reluctant to challenge their children. We have the power to nurture confidence by giving children the opportunity to explore new experiences that push their limits. Exposing children to new obstacles encourages them to step out of their comfort zone, develop confidence, and learn how to cope in difficult situations and overcome their fears.

4. Celebrate effort

As children grow up, each journey they embark on is an important step towards reaching their destination. Children will experience highs and lows, so it is vital to teach them the importance of appreciating and recognising their efforts, regardless of whether they win or lose. In a football game, your child may score a goal, or they might kick the ball out of bounds, but make sure to celebrate and applaud them for all of their efforts. This teaches your child that over the long haul, consistently trying hard and not giving up builds inner confidence and leads to success.

5. Treat mistakes as building blocks

Mistakes and failure can be demotivating and disheartening for children. We view mistakes as something that should be avoided, but in fact, mistakes are opportunities to learn, grow, and build confidence. Allow your child to make mistakes every now and then, and treat them as a learning curve by helping them understand how they can learn from mistakes and overcome disappointments. These “uh-oh” moments are valuable opportunities to cultivate confidence and resilience, especially by educating our children not to fear failure.

Confidence is a driver of success, which is why it is important that we help our children become confident learners. We want our children to strive to succeed throughout their academic journey. If you feel that your child lacks confidence or you’ve identified gaps and weaknesses in their learning, tutoring with NumberWorks’nWords could help! Our proven maths and English tuition model helps students cultivate confidence, and stay on track with their learning. Get in touch with us by contacting your local centre, and book a free assessment today!