Self-confidence allows kids to have positive, yet realistic perceptions of themselves and their abilities, according to the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Alternately, kids who aren't self-confident typically avoid taking risks because they don't feel good about themselves or believe in their abilities. Instilling self-confidence in kids from the beginning will give them a greater chance of living up to their true potential.
Influencing Factors
Parents' attitudes help kids form feelings about themselves, particularly when children are very young, according to the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Accepting parents provide a solid foundation for self-confidence while critical, demanding and overbearing parents can lead kids to believe they aren't capable or adequate. As kids get older, their friends' influences can be as powerful as, if not more powerful than, parental and societal influences, according to the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Risks of Having Low Self-Confidence
Lack of confidence can be especially problematic as kids develop into teenagers. Young teens with low self-confidence can be socially awkward, sensitive, isolated and unwilling to participate in class or extracurricular activities, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Teens who have low self-confidence are also more vulnerable to peer pressure and more likely to engage in self-destructive habits such as smoking, drinking and using drugs.
Confidence-Boosting Actions
Parents should step back and allow their kids to learn new age-appropriate skills on their own, suggests the Nemours Foundation. For example, if a 6-year-old child wants to make his own sandwich, his parents can get sandwich makings out of the refrigerator and let him learn from his mistakes, even if it means a mess. Immediately cleaning up dropped jelly or correcting his method in the midst of his sandwich-making may cause him to believe he's incapable. Another way parents can instill self-confidence in their child is by fostering his interests, letting him show off his skills and applauding him, according to "Psychology Today."
Confidence-Boosting Language
To develop self-confidence, kids should feel trusted, motivated and worthy of praise in spite of their talents, according to "Psychology Today." Parents who consistently use phrases such as, "I trust you to do your homework on your own," "I know you can do it!" and "You put in a good effort whether or not you made the team," will encourage their children to believe in their own abilities.
Getting Help
Some kids are harder on themselves than others. Low self-esteem, though similar to low self-confidence, is slightly different in that it is an underlying feeling of being unworthy even if capable. If you believe your child has low self-esteem or you think that she could use extra help in developing self-confidence, ask her pediatrician to refer you to a child counselor. She can help your child work through issues that underlie her negative feelings, according to the Nemours Foundation.
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