Why It is Important To Teach Your Kids To Be Confident

Raising confident children will help them to become competent adults. We all want our kids to grow up, leave home and be self sufficient. To do this they will need the tools. Doubt and poor image of how they portray themselves will play a part in their future.

Warning signs to look for would be :

1. Do they quit before they try?

2. If someone is better than them will they back out of the race?

3. Does it seem easier to quit?

These questions are hard for a parent to face.

Recently I have had to help one of my children through this situation. It is an ongoing battle of a poor self image. No matter how much we tell him to get out there…put himself out there that it is ok to lose, he won’t. It is easier to quit.

I wasn’t raised this way. It is hard for me to relate to this behavior.

My conversations to my husband have been centered around this puzzling behavior. Was it the sports I had him in? Did I push him, or not push him? Was the fact that he always won a medal no matter how hard he tried or didn’t try?

I don’t know.

This mom went out to find answers on how to help him be more confident.

Build Self Esteem

At any age work on their self esteem. Help them to see that they can be really good at sports, art, communication, school, jump rope, music or whatever. Have them try it all.

Let them figure out what they love, then encourage them to practice and get better. Allowing children to do something they are really good at, or love is important. It will make them try harder to win or excel. If they really don’t like basketball but are doing it for mom or dad then they will never really try to be on the team.

They may get really excited to be cut from the team. Each time they practice give them praise.

Be Honest With Them

If they are not good at something tell them. Be honest. It is hard to be confident when you feel something is not working. On the flip side tell them if they are good. In case they want to quit, don’t force but let them know you feel they are talented in this area.

Have them talk about their failures

Kids will be confident when they can be honest. Honest with themselves, parents and siblings. Review the mistakes they made during a game or competition. A videotape may be helpful and honest.

Talking and getting to the heart of each child will build their self esteem. This is how you teach your kids to be confident.

**”Believe you can and you are halfway there”**

-Theodore Roosevelt-

Cheers,

Michelle