Some children are naturally confident and have no problems when striking up conversations or making friends. However, some children lack confidence and feel shy around others, which can make school life incredibly difficult. Fortunately, this is something that parents can help their children to overcome, using a few simple techniques.
Between James and Evelyn I have one child who is super confident, makes friends wherever they go and always happy to have a go etc. Whilst the others is much more reserved and needs lots of encouragement to give things a go or make new friends. If you are in a similar position then read on for some great tips from Manor House School on how you can help your child to develop their confidence…
Role model
Parents need to set a good example by demonstrating effective social skills with others. Teach your children to be friendly and to say hello to others. It is also helpful to show children how to hold a conversation and teach them the importance of listening to others. It's important not to force your child to partake in an activity or interaction they don't want to, but instead just lead by example.
Conversation starters
Starting conversations with new people can be hard. To help your child feel more confident about speaking to others, it can be useful to prepare a few conversation starters. For example, simple compliments or questions such as ‘I like your bag’ or ‘would you like to play?’ Lots of conversations at home between you and your children, between siblings and between other family members can be great for this. The more conversations they have, the more they will leave about how conversations work, how to hold one and they will also pick up on interesting questions to use in their own conversations too!
Step back
Where possible, try to take a step back and allow your child to solve problems alone. Disputes with friends are common at school and learning how to deal with these issues alone is an important life-skill, which can help to grow their confidence. It is also important to allow your child to make their own decisions. This will help to build confidence as your child takes responsibility for their own choices. Of course it's important to let your child know you are there for them and encourage them to talk to you if they have a problem, issue or question. But try not to always just in straight away if you think it is a situation your child might be able to handle themselves.
Let them help
Encourage your child to help around the house. Children need opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities in order to help boost their self-esteem. You could ask your child to help with the cooking or to care for the family pet. Don't forget the encouragement and praise too.
Extra-curricular activities
Look into local extra-curricular activities, such as sports or drama groups. Extra-curricular activities are a great way to boost your child’s self-confidence. This is because they gain new skills, explore a new environment and meet new people. Your child may also have the opportunity to develop their communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills, while enjoying a favourite hobby. Plus having a variety of friends from a variety of places can be a great confidence booster too.
Do you have any top tips for helping your child to build up their confidence? I would love to hear them in the comments below!
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**This is a collaborative post.**
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