Raising confident kids in a world full of fierce competition is a difficult task. As parents we know our kids are amazing, but this is not enough ammunition for them. We have to teach them how to remain confident in every situation they will encounter throughout life, including the difficult ones.
I have seen several kids lose their confidence quickly. Unfortunately it happens often amongst kid’s sports teams. When a child excels at a sport, the other kids on the team tend to feel that they are not good enough. This can lead to discouragement, anger, and multiple reasons to give up. If you see your kids struggling with their loss of confidence, take advantage of the opportunity and teach them how to keep their heads held high. They need to know that their effort is what counts not the outcome of their efforts.
You can’t win them all.
This bit of information can be hard for kids to swallow. It is best to teach them when they are young. Not every game can be won. Start setting this example by playing honest games of Candy Land. When you lose a board game take it in stride. When they win, express your support, but teach them to be supportive when you win as well.
Let them do it.
Stop taking control of situations and stop doing everything for your kids. This will only keep them from learning how to trouble shoot. When they are struggling with a problem, take a step back to give your child a chance to figure it out by themselves. If they cannot come up with a solution offer a different direction of thinking instead of blurting out the solution right away.
Explore and discover their talent.
Every child has unique skills. Take the time to let them explore and discover what their hidden talents are. Some kids are great artists while others may do well at sports. One of my kids is an incredible cook. You never know what a kid is capable of until you give them the platform to discover. Once you find your child’s talent enable them to learn more. Foster their talent and creativity.
Give
Teaching your child to give to others will create an understanding about empathy. They will become more considerate of others feelings and situations. You don’t have to make a huge donation to give. Start at home by doing small things for one another, with a smile on your face. Helping unload the dishwasher, feeding animals, or folding a load of laundry will show that they can make a difference all by themselves.
The biggest key to increasing your child’s confidence is to resist the temptation to jump in and rescue them from every uncomfortable situation they encounter. It is okay for your kids to be sad, angry, or scared. By taking the time to identify these situations you can teach them through experience. They will gain the tools they need to become successful, happy, and confident.