Finding ways to build your kids confidence can be tough. I have put together some of my best tips how to build confidence in kids while we do activities together.
It’s little things that go a long ways that you can do in your regular day.
Confidence is a fickle thing. Its hard for me, as an adult, to be confident.
I had braces growing up. No head gear, but the whole works. Expander, retainer, braces, more retainer. Then I failed to keep the retainer on and my bottom teeth became super crooked again.
Henry is going to need braces too. On the day he was born, the doctor told me that. He had a huge overbite right off the bat. It didn’t surprise me, I had the same.
So braces are in his future and I remember so much how fun they really weren’t.
I don’t really remember me feeling self-conscious because of them, though I’m sure I did. Truth is, I was never overly confident, still am not.
I want Henry to grow up with confidence so anything that provides that for him, I am game (to a certain extent obviously).
Building kids confidence is already hard enough to do. Especially with all the sports, academics, kindness, etc that they’re all supposed to be so good at doing at such a young age.
How do you build that confidence in kids, and then keep it up?
There’s many things I do with my kids while we’re doing activities to help pump them up a little and build that confidence.
Give them that confidence boost that makes them feel good about themselves.
7 Tips for Building Confidence in Kids Through Activities
1. Focus on What They Already Know
Focus on what the child already knows and expand, just a little, on that in a learning activity.
If he knows the letters B, D, and G, focus on those and add in letter E for the activity!
If he really needs the confidence boost, only do the letter B, D and G, over and over again.
Get him excited about how much he knows.
2. Make the Activity Doable to Build Your Kids Confidence
Make it doable.
The more simple an activity it is, the more likely she’ll have success and feel good about it.
When your kids can accomplish what they are presented in an activity it builds that confidence every time!
Take a minute to look over the activity and make sure it is within their capability.
If not adapt the activity a bit for their skill level.
3. Make it About the Process, Not Results
Make it about the process and how he does the activity.
Not about the end product.
Always love the end product know matter how it turns out.
But the process is what we should be excited about.
Be excited when he finds a new tool to use to paint with, or a new way to use his paintbrush.
Be excited about the how, not the what.
Build your child’s confidence throughout the entire activity, not just when it’s finished.
But celebrate that too!
And also just focus on him. Is he happy doing it? Is he enjoying the time?
Take in the smiles and take a moment to just enjoy the time you’re spending with him.
4. Build Confidence in Your Kids By Doing the Activities Together
Do the activity with them.
If its a little out of her comfort zone, sit right next to her, or have her sit on your lap.
And literally do it right along with her.
Working on it together.
5. Give Your Kids a Job Related to the Activity
Give him a job!
Make them doable for his age, of course.
But kids knowing that they can help out and do their part plays a big part in building confidence.
Ask him to help set up the activity, or put something away when you’re done.
He’ll love cleaning up with a wet rag and a bucket of water!
Or even turn the clean up process into an activity itself.
6. No Criticizing! Stay Positive.
Don’t criticize.
Don’t ever point out what she did wrong.
Look at what she’s doing right instead.
Shut your mouth.
Remember what mom always told us, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
That rings true for us as parents too.
Look at the activity as half full, at all times.
7. Repeat Activities to Master and Build Confidence in Kids
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.
Do activities over and over again.
Repetition is great for kids to learn, but also great on building their confidence!
Just being kind in general to your kids goes a long ways.
Read this post on ‘Creative with Kids’ for 100 ways to be kind to your child.
Even thought Henry has a major overbite, like I did, it doesn’t have to mean he will have a low self-esteem.
I’m committed to helping him build his self confidence as much as I can through activities together.
How do you build your child’s confidence?
You may also like to read this post on A Mom With a Lesson Plan about building kids’ self esteem.
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vanessa says
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Lindsey Morgan says
so crazy! when I was in school braces were a sign you could AFFORD braces so to have them was top notch and you were pretty cool to have them. I had them… ( i wasn’t at all wealthy growing up though….. thank you mom for going into debt as I begged for braces…) I BEGGGGGGED for braces for YEARS for atleast 6 years I ended up getting them in like 10th grade. I LOVED my braces they actually made me “cuter”. You see…. the gap I had between my front teeth wasn’t good on my self esteem. Now that I am 28 I have a little bit of a gap again and my bottom teeth have become a bit crowded again…(what a total waste of 1000s (sorry mom….) I wish I could afford to get something now but with 4 kiddos I will just deal :)
Marianne Botting says
Excellent post, thank you! I know lots of my readers will find this useful, just as a reminder that doing an activity with your child is not about the end product, but what they learn in the process. And that activities are not necessarily always about learning colours, numbers or fine motor skills (etc.) , but about developing PSED – confidence and pride in their own abilities, and a love of learning! Will be sharing on my fb page :-).
Jamie Reimer says
Thanks for the reminder Marianne – I agree that its always about the process and not the end product — its a hard thing to grasp though, which is why I included that as a way to help build their confidence. Thanks for sharing!