#AD – This is a collaborative post
While there’s nothing wrong with being introverted or shy, most parents would prefer to raise a confident child; one who can handle challenges, take risks and try new things. In fact, confidence is key to helping young people thrive, not only at school but within their personal lives. With that said, you’re probably wondering what you can do to help your child become more confident. I have teamed up with an independent school in London to offer you some advice.
Provide a Supportive Environment
If your child doesn’t feel supported at home, where they are supposed to feel at their safest, the chances are they will struggle in various aspects of their life. Consequently, its hugely important that you make an effort to ensure your child feels supported and loved no matter what. If, for example, they fail an exam, you should avoid being too hard on them. Instead, praise them for trying their best and remind them that all human beings face setbacks from time to time.
Show an interest in your child’s schoolwork, hobbies and friendships so that they know you care. The more involved you are in their education and personal life, the more likely the are to try harder to impress you. With this in mind, be sure to attend school events like parents’ evening, sports day or school plays.
Help with Social Skills
Younger children might need some help with their social skills, such as how to start a conversation with a new person. You can help them with this by introducing them to new people on a regular basis. You could join a Mother and Toddler group or just invite your friends and family round for lunch so that your child learns how to interact with lots of different people. It might also help your child to practise some conversation starters with you. Let them know that questions and compliments work well, such as “I love your dress, where did you get it from?”.
Give Your Child Some Independence
Another way to help your child with their confidence is to encourage them to stand on their own two feet so that they have faith in their own abilities. You can do this by giving them some independence around your home to show them that you trust them. Set them some age-appropriate tasks to complete on their own, like picking up some milk from the shop, walking the dog, or even setting the table before dinner every night. When they complete a task successfully, let them know you are proud of them for doing so, so that they can feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Slowly but surely, make their responsibilities more and more challenging. As a result, your child will learn that they don’t always need you (or someone else) to fall back on.
Encourage New Experiences
Help your child learn that taking risks and trying new things isn’t as scary as it may seem by encouraging them to do so on a regular basis. Try something as simple as cooking a new recipe or visiting a new town, so that your child doesn’t feel intimidating by new experiences. You could also encourage them to join an extra-curricular activity, where they will develop a range of new skills and build new relationships.