Building Self-Confidence in Children

Building self-confidence is not an easy process and takes time, as it develops over several years. However, it is worth noting that several tips can help parents strengthen their children’s self-confidence:

• First tip: Build close relationships and talk with them about what happened during your day. Give them space to talk about what happened to them, making sure to listen without lecturing or criticizing them.
• Second tip: Make your child feel that what they are telling you is important.
• Third tip: Accept your children as they are, with their strengths and weaknesses, such as shyness, fear, a weak personality, difficulty defending themselves, stubbornness, or difficulty adapting, among others. It is important to remember that everyone has weaknesses, and the first step toward overcoming them is to acknowledge and accept them, then look for a way to strengthen those areas. Parents can help their children address many of their weaknesses, but there are some areas in which they can do nothing except believe in their children’s ability to forge their own path and overcome their weaknesses through their own inner strength. 
• Fourth tip: Offer ongoing support and encouragement for the things your child actually does.
• Fifth tip: Before a young child goes to sleep, it is important to remind them of three things they did that you appreciated. With an older son or daughter, you can remind them of three good things that happened to them during the day, even if they were small.

You can also try an exercise in which the child imagines a strong animal they would like to resemble. They then close their eyes, picture the animal, and feel its strength passing into them. This exercise can be done three to ten times during the day.

Download the Tatmeen app for online psychological and family consultations from the App Store or Google Play. You can also register on the Tatmeen mental health website to access valuable information and practical tools for strengthening your mental and family well-being.