One of the most significant emotional epidemics that affects millions of children today is that they struggle with low self-esteem as they have an inner belief that “I’m not enough.” It affects absolutely everything in their life. The competition in today’s world is so high that the pressure it puts on kids is unimaginable. Kids often struggle to deal with their inner feelings and constantly attempt to fit in. But is that how it is supposed to be? Absolutely no! If every child tries to fit themselves into the normal rules of the world, we will not have great scientists, artists, explorers, and great writers in our society. We don’t want a world where everyone lives the same life. So, it is crucial that we teach our kids to appreciate how they are different from others, accept others, and grow by helping each other.
Confidence is very essential for a child’s future happiness, health, and success. Confident children can deal with peer pressure, take up responsibilities, deal with frustrations, face challenges, and handle both positive and negative emotions. What do you think plays the most important role in building a child’s confidence? Yes, it is the boost that parents give. But for most parents building a child’s confidence turns out to be an intimidating or complicated task. But does it have to be so, or can we make it fun?
Confidence building starts with the unconditional love that parents give. You can add to this foundation by helping them practice positive self-talk. It takes a long time to make your kids find their way from ‘I can’t do this’ to ‘I am capable of doing anything.’ And so, you have to encourage your kids make positive self-talk a habit. But it should not sound like a chore and moreover they should be able to enjoy and do it themselves. Is there a way to continue boosting your kids’ confidence even when you are not around?
Storybooks are a great resource. ‘You Matter’ by Christian Robinson teaches kids to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected and that everyone matters [1]. Pat Zietlow Miller’s ‘Remarkably you’ is another inspirational manifesto of all that makes you up and makes your individuality [2]. Many books can be added to this list. These books teach kids to accept them as they are, believe in themselves, dream big, and achieve big.
When children have self-confidence and love themselves, they are likely to try new things, restart even if they make mistakes, accept and love their fellow beings and be thankful for their blessings. Another way of instilling these important feelings and overall positive attitude is by using posters and flashcards with inspirational quotes. While these can be passive, coloring books with inspirational quotes can be a great way to engage kids and help them practice mindful self-affirmation creatively. Many coloring books with motivational quotes woven in beautiful doodles and geometric designs are available [3]. Let your kids’ minds flow with positive thoughts and make their lives wonderful.
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