Confidence

Building confidence in a child

• A preschooler often looks to a parent for his own confidence. Confidence comes from having good self-esteem. If the adult has confidence in the child that image is reflected back to the child. A parent is a child's hero so show them how to act, speak, and think by your example. How parents treat their child gives a child good self-esteem.
• Do you let the child know that you enjoy being with him and that you love him?
• A child wants and needs rules to follow in order to build confidence. If how the child behaves makes you happy, do you let him know it? Give praise when it is due.
• Use play activities to build confidence - winning a game, learning the rules, utilizing playground equipment, playing with friends, riding bikes, etc.  Instill the need to practice to gain confidence
• Let a child solve a problem by himself - step in to help only when necessary. Empower a child to make his own decisions by showing options and consequences.
• Give a child new challenges - physically, socially, and mentally.  Encourage creativity
• Treat mistakes as opportunities. Give suggestions and useful feedback - not criticism.

Here is an uplifting video to watch with your child about being "Me"