When it comes to raising confident children, parents can do a lot. They can raise their child in a way that will help them become confident.
Many factors contribute to developing a child’s confidence, including genetics, individual circumstances, parenting style, etc.
There are many ways to raise confident children. Giving your child a sense of autonomy and control over their life is one of the most effective skills.
You can accomplish this by letting your child choose what they eat, wear, and do for fun.
Another way is to teach them how to be assertive while still respecting others’ opinions.
A new study published in the journal “Child Development” examined whether fathers with attractive male characteristics were more suitable parents. They found that fathers with more attractive characteristics are regarded as better parents and that the judgment is based on a belief that these men would produce better children.
This article will discuss the signs of low self-esteem in a child, how to make them confident, and parents’ role in their children’s self-esteem
Signs Of Low Sense Of Esteem In A Child
Self-esteem is a term used to describe a person’s degree of self-worth.
Signs of low self-esteem in a child can be hard to spot. The child might not show any symptoms in public, but they might withdraw from people in private.
Other signs include;
Being Overly Confident
Being overly confident when they are nervous – Arrogant children tend to exhibit behaviours where they act excessively confident or arrogant. Still, it is usually out of fear of being exposed as weak.
These children will try to overcompensate for their lack of self-confidence. Arrogant children often think that they will appear more confident by acting superior, making others see them in a better light.
Often Withdrawing From Other Poeple & Social Events
Withdrawal is an instinctive survival strategy common in many cases of mental illness. Sometimes withdrawal can be a symptom of depression, where the child feels sad or isn’t interested in doing anything. It can also be a symptom of anxiety, where the child feels nervous or worried about social events.
An Extreme Need For Approval & Recognition
We all need reward and recognition. The desire to be recognized for our hard work is an innate human need reinforced in our culture. But sometimes, the desire to be approved of in this way becomes excessive, in which case it becomes a disorder. A child who exhibits such traits is trying to cover up low self-esteem.
Difficulty Accepting Compliments Or Praise
If you notice your child rejects positive feedback, this may indicate that they struggle with low self-worth and esteem.
Overly Concerned About Mistakes And Criticism
In his book “The Chimp Paradox,” Dr. Steve Peters explains that the human brain has three parts: the rational, linear brain (the chimp), the emotional brain (the monkey), and the social brain.
The chimp is always overly concerned about mistakes and criticism, while the monkey can feel happy and content in any situation. That’s what children with low self-esteem go through.
Low Self Confidence
It is natural for children to experience some self-doubt. They are still building their sense of who they are and might not know what they do or say. However, kids with low self-esteem tend to doubt themselves and everything they do overly.
Signs Of A Confident Child
Confident children will do the following:
Have A High Level Of Self Esteem
A study done by Ellen Cohn found that children with high self-esteem were more likely to be self-directed, independent, and autonomous learners. These are essential characteristics that help children grow into adults who can take care of themselves.
They Are Risk Takers
Confident children are not afraid to try out new things.
Have An Attitude That Is Open To New Ideas
They are always receptive to new people and ideas. Such children are willing to embrace diversity.
Willing To Learn New Things
A confident child will be curious about new items and can often be seen experimenting with new ideas. They get involved in new projects easily and do not get discouraged when something doesn’t work out for them the first time.
Good Social Skills
They can better communicate with others and enjoy friendships.
Initiates Conversation
Initiates conversation with other people, especially adults
How To Make Your Child More Confident
To make your child more confident, you need to encourage them and make them feel important.
Prasie Them For Good Deeds
Be the first to congratulate your child for good deeds. It’s a good confidence builder. Don’t overpraise them, though, as it might do more harm than good.
Praise your children for qualities you want them to have instead of what they have. If your child is good at maths, for example, focus on telling them how hard they tried at learning instead of making comments on the test score without context.
Demand Respect From Your Children
The first step to instilling a sense of confidence in your child is to treat them with respect. Being respectful will set an excellent example for your children and will encourage them to be more respectful as well.
Give Positive Feedback
Rather than constantly criticizing their mistakes, try praising their accomplishments or compliments on how they look or dress that day. Positive feedback helps nurture the sense of self-confidence that every child needs, especially if they are regularly told they are not “good enough.”
Encourage Your Children To Take Risks
Children need opportunities to be themselves and make mistakes if they learn how to overcome fear and build up their bravery (or what some call “grit”). Provide an opportunity.
How To Help A Child With Low Self Esteem In School
Self-esteem can be hard to increase and maintain, but there are some ways that we can remind children that they are worthy and important.
Here’s what you can do:
Compliment Them Often
This helps a lot. Studies show that children are more likely to thrive when given praise and encouragement. Compliments are a simple way to show your children you care.
Give Them Responsibility And Oppotunities For Decision Making
It’s an integral part of their development. It teaches them self-reliance, self-confidence, and the importance of problem-solving. It also helps with their ongoing social skills, negotiation skills, and critical thinking.
Consider The Environment Your Placing Your Child In
The choice of school and the environment the child is exposed to can significantly impact their development. Studies show that children who attend schools with a more diverse student body and faculty tend to have high self-esteem.
Validate Their Feelings And Thoughts
Listen to what they have to say. That shows you care about their ideas and consider implementing some of them at school or home.
Help Them Find A School Activity They Enjoy
Schools are looking for ways to help students find their passions and talents. One way is to allow them to try different activities. Students need to see what they enjoy doing to do well in school and have a good time.
How Parents Can Affect A Childs Self Esteem
We all know that how we look affects how we feel about ourselves, but it is an even more significant factor as children. In this way, parents significantly impact a child’s self-esteem.
This is how parents affect a child’s self-esteem;
Through Words & Actions
Children will develop a positive self-image when parents teach them to have healthy relationships, praise their achievements, set limits on behaviour, and create an environment where they are loved.
Dress Code
When a person wears clothes that fit their body type, they can improve their confidence. On the other hand, wearing clothes that do not fit the individual’s body type can negatively affect their self-esteem. For example, if they wear trendy or expensive clothes, their children may believe this is an attractive characteristic.
How They Discipline Their Child
Parents have several ways to discipline their children. Some parents will use physical punishment to try and discourage bad behaviour. Others may use logical consequences or time-outs to try and teach their child a lesson. That influences the child’s opinion of themselves.
How They Treat Each Other
For couples, how they act around each other impacts a child’s self-esteem. One study found a correlation between parental behaviour and how children performed in class.
Play Activities That Could Build Children’s Self-Esteem At Home
At home, there are many ways to boost the children’s self-esteem and allow them to develop skills that will be useful later in life.
Try these activities;
Play Games With Them
Play is a powerful tool in building your child’s self-esteem. It leads them to explore the world on their terms, learn through trial and error, and even teaches them how to share.
Children learn from an early age how to share and cooperate. They also learn how to communicate feelings, emotions, and needs. They develop a sense of self-confidence and feel that they can do anything in the process.
Give Them Simple Tasks
Giving your child tasks builds their self-esteem in various ways. For one, it allows them to have a sense of responsibility and independence. It also helps them develop skills that will be useful in the future, such as organization and time management. Give them simple tasks, even if it’s just making the bed.
Encourage Them To Discover Their Passions
Your child might be the next new star in your community. You might be sitting on your child’s future big break. You can help by encouraging them to play sports and joining youth organizations. The most important thing is that you’re trying to help them find themselves and boost their self-esteem.
Try New Things Together
Children are more likely to be confident about themselves if encouraged to try new things. They will be motivated by what is happening around them. Learning together is an excellent way for children to discover new things about the world while getting encouragement from their parents.
Why Paying For Extra Child Confidence Lessons Could Improve Child Confidence
It’s important to teach children about their strengths to understand better how they can contribute productively to society. Teaching children about their strengths at an early age helps reduce the chance of developing the “Not Good Enough” syndrome.
The “Not Good Enough” syndrome is when people compare themselves to others and feel unworthy of praise and recognition. Children are taught to be the best versions of themselves from a tender age. Confidence lessons are meant to teach children to be assured that they are worth it and confident in their accomplishments.
Closing Thoughts
As a parent, pay attention to behavioural changes in a child to determine if low self-esteem stems from an external source or something that has developed inside.
Children with low self-esteem might not want to talk about their feelings.
There are several ways to bring up this topic with your child. Firstly, listen. Take some time for reflection before you start talking about it, and take care not to be judgmental when responding with your thoughts.
It’s possible to teach your kids to be confident.
Children who have developed a healthy sense of self-worth tend to become more successful as adults.
To have a happy and confident child, parents should pay attention to how they talk about their appearance, achievements, and even weight.
If a parent has low self-esteem or feels unattractive, their child will pick up on those feelings and feel ashamed of their looks. Parents need to stay positive even if they are not satisfied with their appearance.
They can still show their kids that other qualities make them worthwhile individuals instead of constantly pointing out what they dislike about themselves.
