KTMS Radio Commentary
Self-confidence enables young people to succeed in school.
But self-confidence can be difficult to acquire and very difficult to teach.
Parents can help nurture those skills and reap the rewards that result.
For
example, children can be taught to question some conventional wisdom. There
will always be those who say that something can’t be done. Help children identify
the difference between those who have real wisdom and those who are just
naysayers.
Emphasize
that practical knowledge is just as important as learned knowledge, because
knowledge lies at the heart of self-confidence. If students know how to do something,
they will be more confident in their abilities.
Remember
that persistence leads to success.
One
of the most difficult things for young people to learn is that it’s fine to
fail, and that when they do, they can get back up and try again.
Children
need to see that it’s good to stand up for what they believe, even when they’re
unsuccessful or their stance is unpopular.
Find out what your child is good
at, and encourage it. Nothing breeds self-confidence better than success.
In school,
children must take every subject, even those that are not their strengths.
Those courses can cause frustration, especially if struggles at school eat away
at confidence.
So be sure
to focus your encouragement on the things your children do well, and don’t
dwell on the areas where they might fall short.
Show them
that you believe they are successful. Knowing that YOU have confidence in them
will help strengthen their own self-confidence.
