Children who have low confidence may not participate in school or other activities and may have trouble creating friendships with other children. Children may have low overall self-esteem or lack confidence in a certain area, such as appearance or athletic ability. Positive reinforcement, encouragement and attention encourage a child's confidence, while negative comments and neglect cause low confidence.
Negative Comments
Negative comments from parents, siblings or classmates may prevent children from developing confidence. If you criticize children more than you praise them or if you call them names, such as clumsy or stupid, they may have low self-esteem and not believe in themselves. However, don't give false praise; children can tell when praise is genuine and when it is forced. Children also learn to mirror your own negative comments, so avoid criticizing your abilities, appearance or other qualities in front of your children.
Comparisons
Comparing your child to siblings or other children can also prevent children from becoming confident. Children develop at varying rates and have different abilities, so don't expect your children to reach the same accomplishments at the same ages. Instead, encourage children to try to do better than they have done before. Having unrealistically high expectations for your child may also cause him to develop low confidence. Instead of only praising achievement, also praise your child's effort and persistence.
Overprotection
Overprotecting children sometimes leads to low confidence because children don't get the opportunity to test themselves and succeed. Don't be afraid to let your child try something new, such as taking an art class or trying out for a sports team. Encourage your child to pursue activities that are aligned with his strengths, but also allow him to participate in any activities he finds interesting. In addition, let children do some activities by themselves to help them develop a sense of independence.
Neglect
Neglecting children can also damage their confidence and self-esteem. Children who are exposed to abuse or violence in the home are also more likely to suffer from low confidence, according to KidsHealth.org. In contrast, spending time with children shows that you care about them and also provides opportunities for modeling important skills, such as being kind or picking up after yourself.
Member Comments