All Parents want their children to be confident. Reassurance
is something we are all aware of as a tool to build
confidence, but there are other techniques you can utilize to
help build your children’s confidence level.
As a professional Martial Arts Instructor, I have been using
these specific techniques to develop confidence and
self-esteem in my students over the years.
I hope you find this information useful and valuable!
There are three simple, yet very important things to remember:
#1 Praise.
Praise your children daily on a job well done, or a situation
you observe them handling appropriately. Let them know that
you approve, and why. When your youngest child colors a nice
picture and is eager to show it to you, be sure to praise
them. But, also be sure to pick out a singular aspect of the
picture to comment on. This tells even the youngest of
children that you are interested in what they have
accomplished. Praise should go beyond your acknowledgment
of the piece of art; it should say to the child that you
have paid attention to the details in the picture as well.
With this method of praising, and singling out particular
reasons a child’s confidence can soar.
#2 Reliability and Consistency.
Children of all ages not only want to know, but need to know
that they can depend on their parents or guardians to be
consistent. If you have set rules for a specific dinnertime,
be consistent. Do not let the teenager (or any member) of
your household upset a family routine or set rule due to a
preference, such as eating at Joe’s house at the last minute,
or being late for dinner due to a ball game. While there
will always be exceptions to this practice, if you are
consistent in any given family situation or rule your
children will know they can rely on you. Although this
strategy might not be popular in your home at first, your
family will eventually accept and expect certain rules. They
will learn to respect your decisions through your
dependability as well. Through the child’s confidence in you,
his own confidence grows.
#3 Trust.
Trust, as we all know is “earned”. You can and should start
building trust between you and your children as early as
toddler-hood. Nothing builds confidence in humans like trust.
Be sure to remain consistent (as mentioned above) when you
allow your children to venture forth in new areas. It is not
always easy for a parent to feel sure of their children’s
abilities, albeit a new bike, or riding that bike to the
neighborhood store. Start with small and realistic steps
that are agreed upon and carried out. Each success is the
essential ingredient to building trust between child and
parent.
Remember, a confident child is assured in love and patience.
A confident child is a happy child.
Visit our homepage Karate World – Martial Arts For Life.
Wishing you every success,
Rich Brugger
Karate World – Martial Arts for Life
Teaching Martial Arts and Lifes Skills to Families in New Providence, Summit, Berkeley Heights, Chatham, and all of Northern Union County New Jersey.
