Help children develop confidence in themselves is fundamental for their emotional growth. Confidence is the foundation on which skills such as resilience, autonomy and the ability to face challenges are built. That is why it is important that both mothers, fathers and caregivers play an active role in fostering this trust. But how to help children gain confidence?
The importance of having self-confidence
Having self-confidence allows children face challenges with optimism, making it easier to achieve your goals. Self-confidence helps them establish solid relationships, express their ideas and make decisions with greater confidence.
The more you cultivate and strengthen your skills, the more you will contribute. to enrich the vision they have of themselves as a person. And it is something in which as mothers, aunts, grandmothers or caregivers we can contribute by giving them greater security.
Are confidence and self-esteem the same thing?
Self-esteem and self-confidence they are not the same Although both allow us to build a positive image of ourselves and are of great importance in the development of children. And while self-esteem focuses on the value you give yourself as a person, self-confidence is more linked to your abilities, to what you believe you can do.
However, although each of them is oriented toward a very specific goal, improving one can boost the other. That is why, in addition to reading the tips to help children gain confidence that we share below, we also encourage you to read the tips to have good self-esteem that we shared some time ago.
How to help children gain confidence
Self-confidence has security as its main dimension. When a child feels skilled and competent, her confidence is strengthened. The fact of overcome specific challenges It helps them gain confidence, however it is necessary to grant them some autonomy and of course provide them with the necessary tools. These are some tips that adults can apply to help children gain confidence:
Provide unconditional support
Showing children that they will always have our support gives them confidence to explore the world and face obstacles. That doesn't mean approving everything they do, but accepting what they can do. Making them feel safe is key to their self-confidence.
Promote their autonomy
Adults sometimes tend to overprotect children too much. However, for them to gain trust it is necessary to let let them do some things for themselves or what is the same, promote their autonomy. Supervising it, of course, but only intervening if absolutely necessary.
An learning tower, for example, makes it easier for children to wash their hands alone or help in the kitchen. Likewise, we can ask them to set the table or make their bed. And encourage them to talk to other children without us always being behind them.
Allow them to give their opinion and make decisions
Listen to their opinion and allow them make decisions according to your age It also promotes their autonomy and helps them trust in their value and their ability to understand and handle different situations. It doesn't matter if your child is very young, there will always be decisions he can make, such as determining whether he wants to wear blue or gray pants or whether he wants banana or grapes for a snack.
Celebrate your achievements
Recognize and praise their efforts and achievements, reinforces their self-esteem and self-confidence. When you congratulate your child for something he has done well, you lay the foundation for him to value himself positively. And with the same objective it is also important to highlight its virtues. He will feel valued by you, something very important while you are little for his safety.
promote resilience
You won't always get what you want or do things well. And then teach them to overcome failures And managing frustration will be essential to building stronger confidence. And knowing how to handle ourselves in life also gives us self-confidence.
Foster skills
As a mother or educator it is easy identify what you are good at each child to encourage activities in which they can continue developing those skills. In this way and with success in her favor, he will learn to love himself a little more every day. Of course, setting achievable goals will be key to this.
Likewise, it is also important encourage effective communication, empathy and conflict resolution since these skills provide them with tools to interact positively with others, strengthening their personal security.
Model trust by being an example
La importance of self-esteem and self-confidence is key to its development, which is why we must make an effort to foster it. Parents are the main models for their children, therefore it is essential that they show confidence in themselves and their actions. And only then will you inspire the little ones to do the same.