As parents and educators, one of our primary goals is to nurture confident and capable children. Confidence can be built through a combination of support, experiences, and personal development. Children start developing a sense of self-awareness and agency between the ages of 3 and 5. So, if you’re looking for a few ways to boost your child’s confidence skills, we’ve got you covered!
Let Them Take The Lead
Self-directed play is essential for the development of self-confidence. When children are allowed to take the lead in how they play, it helps develop and foster their independence, creativity, initiative, and confidence (among other skills)! You’ve no doubt seen your child and many others engaged in all sorts of self-directed play involving dress-up, playing with puppets, building with LEGOs, exploring sensory bins, and climbing on playground equipment. When children make decisions during play, they learn to trust their instincts and abilities, fostering a strong sense of leadership and self-assurance.
Help Them Explore Their Interests and Find Passions
During the preschool years, children learn a lot about themselves through their interactions with the world. TGS offers unique learning opportunities so little learners can determine who they are and what they like. Whether it’s through art, music, or one of our enrichment classes, students get to discover their unique passions and interests. By encouraging children to explore their interests and exposing them to new experiences and ideas, we help them develop a sense of identity—which is essential to building confidence!
Praise Perseverance and Effort
Learning to persevere through frustration and setbacks is an important life skill. It’s easy to applaud when your child succeeds, and it’s equally important to praise their perseverance and effort! This approach encourages children to recognize the value in the process of what they’re doing, not just the result. We can nurture this mindset by recognizing and celebrating our children’s efforts and encouraging them to enjoy the moment rather than focusing on the outcome alone.
Help Your Child Learn To Do Things
Support your child’s development by guiding them through new skills. For an infant, mastering the ability to grasp a cup or taking their first steps brings joy and a newfound sense of achievement. As they get older, acquiring skills like dressing themselves, riding a bike, or even helping with chores around the house offers opportunities to boost their self-esteem.
To start, you can demonstrate and assist them and then allow them to attempt tasks on their own. Be sure to set expectations by encouraging them to try their best, letting them know they don’t have to be perfect! Also, make sure new tasks aren’t too easy or too difficult. You may find this guide helpful, as it breaks down household chores and small tasks by age.
Continue Showing Lots of Love
The love you have for your child is unconditional and that does more for their confidence than you can imagine! When we express love for our children frequently, they feel valued and know that they matter. One of our favorite quotes from Fred Rogers sums it up perfectly, “Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.”
The Gardner School Fosters Confidence In Every Child
We love being a resource for families to help every child grow into a happy, healthy, and confident individual. Check out more of our blog articles to see how we work to foster confidence and develop young leaders at The Gardner School. Contact us any time to schedule a tour of our beautiful learning spaces!