Self-confidence
enables young people to succeed in school, but it can be difficult to acquire
and even harder to teach. However, parents can help nurture those skills and
reap the rewards that result.
For
example, children can be taught to respectfully 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 children know how to do
something, they will be more confident in their abilities.
Teach
them that effort and persistence pave the road to success.
One
of the most difficult things for young people to learn is that it’s OK to fail,
as long as you can get back up and try again.
Find
out what your child is good at, and encourage it. Success breeds
self-confidence.
In
school, children are required to take every subject, even those that are not
their strengths. Those courses can cause frustration. Few humans of any age can
be good at everything.
So
be sure to focus your encouragement on the things your children do well, and
don’t dwell too much on the areas where they might fall short, as long as you
know they are working hard to master their challenges.
Show
them that you believe they are successful. Knowing that YOU have confidence in
them will help their own self-confidence.
