All parents want their children to be confident and charismatic, but this can cause them to push their children too hard in the wrong direction. In some cases, they may take so much control over their children's lives that it causes the opposite effect, and their children become much too dependent. Treating your children with respect and giving them their own responsibilities can go a long way in increasing their confidence and self-esteem.
Instructions
- 1 Give your children free time to decide their own activities. Scheduling your children's day too rigorously limits their use of imagination. Giving them time to create their own games can make them more confident and encourage their independence. This does not mean you cannot play with your children while they are doing this, but give them the opportunity to control the course of the game.
2 Teach your children skills. Cooking is one example of skill that can instill confidence in your children. Give them room to experiment, but also make sure that they complete the task properly. This also encourages independence and confidence.
3 Let your children practice things by themselves. Instead of doing things for your children, or taking over when they don't successfully complete a task quickly, give them time to figure it out themselves. This teaches them that they are able to overcome difficulties by themselves and do not always need to seek help.
4 Praise and encourage your children's effort. This is different from praising the outcome. Whether they fail or succeed at a task, they will understand that hard work is important no matter the outcome. This means that regardless of how good the outcome is, they will be proud of the effort they put into an activity.
5 Make your child feel loved. Your child should never feel as though your love hinges on their accomplishments or actions. Make sure your children know you love them no matter what.
6 Be self-confident. It's important that you are as confident as you expect your children to be. If you have trouble with self-esteem, resolve them before pushing your child too hard. Children can tell when their parents are not as confident as they seem, so don't expect to fool them.
7 Give your child chores. Similar to teaching them skills, making them responsible for some small task around the house makes them feel important to the workings of the family. Make them know they are a necessary part of the process, and make sure that they keep up with that task.
