It’s important for children to have confidence in their abilities; otherwise it will be hard for them to perform well academically. As a parent, you can help in that regard, so that your kids are ready to take on the world. For those of you who are unsure how to help your kids with their self-esteem, I have teamed up with an independent school in the Cotswolds to offer the following advice. 

In order for your child to feel loved, supported and respected within your family unit, you will need to make time to chat to them each evening after school/work. Sit with your child in a one-to-one setting and let them tell you about their day, without interruption or judgement. Ask them open ended questions so that they know you’re actually interested in them. You should also let your child make their own decisions in your home so that they don’t feel like they have no say. Constantly following orders will crush their self-assurance, which is something they’ll need in order to take risks or try new things like learning to play an instrument. 

Praise

Praising your child is a fantastic way to boost your child’s confidence, but it has to be completely sincere, otherwise it will start to lose its meaning. When they do something that you approve or that makes you proud, let them know. However, you should always focus your praise on the effort that goes into something, rather than the finished result. This will help encourage similar behaviour going forward.  

Goals

Help your child establish some goals from a young age, but make sure they’re achievable. If they are unrealistic and your child never fulfils them, they will start to lose confidence in themselves. It could be a personal achievement, like ‘start horse riding lessons’, or an academic achievement like ‘get full marks on my spelling test at least once a term’. Help your child make achieving these goals a possibility and try to give them the courage and motivation they’ll need in order to never give up.