Confidence is an important personality trait to carry through life. It’s what gives us the courage to take risks, try new things, and talk to new people. It’s what helps us believe in our own abilities and think positively about what is to come. As we grow up, our confidence tends to progress.  But lots of children struggle with their self-esteem. With that in mind, parents are probably wondering what they can do to help their children become more confident and self-assured. I have teamed up with a preparatory school in Surrey to offer you some advice.

Compliment Them

Of course, one obvious way to help a person become more confident is with compliments and praise. However, this has to be sincere because otherwise it will lose its meaning. You should try to praise your child for the behaviour that they demonstrate, such as trying hard at school, rather than focusing on things like grades. By putting an emphasis on exam results, your children will feel disappointed and ashamed if they don’t get a good grade. Essentially, it will knock their confidence. Instead, you need to remind them that the effort they put in is what truly matters. Let them know you’re proud of them.

Extra-curricular activities

You should try and encourage your child to join some extra-curricular activities so that they can experience new things and meet new people. The more challenges they overcome at a young age, the more they will be able to believe in themselves and their abilities going forward. This could be anything from scoring a goal at football to performing on stage in front of an audience. Extra-curricular activities tend to teach kids a multitude of skills, all which contribute to improved self-esteem.

Give Responsibilities

From time to time, it’s a good idea to give your child some responsibilities of their own that are simple enough for them to complete successfully. This could be something like setting the table before dinner or taking the dog for a walk. You should also let them figure out problems on their own so that they can become independent and appreciate that nothing is as scary as it might seem at first.