There are countless theories on how to raise a child right. One of the key elements of nurture is to constantly boost the young one’s confidence. At DIY, we believe that extracurricular learning goes a long way in accomplishing this goal. When children — whether they are toddlers or pre-teens — tend to participate in activities that they truly enjoy, they let their personality take a fuller shape.
An old adage suggests that kids are like sponges but it doesn’t take into factor that a sponge hardens quickly, if not properly taken care of. This is where non-academics enter the picture. Disciplines like music, dance, and sports help a child spread their wings.
However, apart from extracurricular learning, there are many ways in which parents can help their children boost their confidence. Listing out 5 such (not so difficult) steps –
Let your child act their age
– Due to the impatient nature of our time, more and more parents expect their kids to grow up suddenly. Which is not only impossible but also dangerous. A more advisable method would be to see that they behave according to their age.
– There is a clear distinction between kids and adults. The latter is bound by worldly performance metrics. The former doesn’t have to be. And it’s the parent’s responsibility to ensure this.
Avoid spoon-feeding every single experience
– Your child may be very young but that doesn’t mean they will not grow up soon. So, it’d be nicer to let them find their own experiences (good or not so good) and more importantly, to not impose your experience on them.
– Also encourage curiosity at the most basic level so that your child not only enjoys their learnings but also doesn’t forget them easily. With this approach, you’ll see that your little one is soon figuring out their challenges on their own.
Practice makes almost perfect
– At DIY, we unanimously agree that without practice, no endeavor is worthwhile. This is why our courses strongly encourage the kids to re-consolidate their learnings on a regular basis. However, as a parent, you could ease the pressure on your child to achieve perfection. Practice is more important than being perfect.
– Instead, encourage them to find joy in the process of practice. Tell them how all greats, be it sports or music or science, reached a certain level because they practiced a lot. That said, if your child is absolutely disinterested in anything, just let it go.
Learn to learn together
– It might seem unlikely that you and your child find activities to do together where both of you can learn (or you can pretend to learn) but with a little more effort (at your end), you’ll acknowledge that the most important thing is to spend time together.
– Learning together something helps grow a stronger friendship between you both. And it will also help them feel like you are on their side and that you both are a team. Your success must become your child’s success and vice versa.
Low on critique, high on praise
– Whenever you feel that your child could have done something better, sit them down calmly and try to have a conversation about it, instead of instantly criticizing them. Always remember that children are NOT adults.
– Keeping an open mind and attitude will let them come to you when they are in doubt or have problems. Trust is the most sacred part of parenthood. And your kind words can go a long way in building it.
At DIY, we encourage parents to be a part of the courses and challenges that we conduct for kids. These little activities will provide you an added reason to invest more time in your young one and as a result, notice their confidence grow with time.