How to Build Self-Confidence in Children: Daily Habits for Success

Developing self-confidence in children is critical to their emotional and academic development. As The Notebook School wants to inform you, confident children are more capable of handling stress, communicating, and achieving success. There are small daily habits that parents and educators can promote that will foster confidence and, even with modest levels of support, yield great results over the long term. 

some simple research-based daily habits that you can help your child build on in order to develop long-lasting self-confidence in the classroom and beyond

1. Start the Day with Positive Affirmations

Have your child start each day with positive affirmations like "I am capable" or "I can learn new things". Affirming statements upon waking have been shown to change children's mindsets, improve self-esteem, and allow at-risk students to have a can-do attitude when faced with the challenges of school.

2. Foster a Growth Mindset

Teach kids that skills and intelligence are built. Instilling a growth mindset in young children helps them to try new things, learn from their mistakes, and develop perseverance — all vital for long-term confidence.

3. Encourage Creativity and Self-Expression

Creative outlets like drawing, story writing, and playing musical instruments are great ways for young children to explore their gifts and express their feelings. Research shows creativity is directly correlated to higher self-confidence in children.

4. Be a Role Model of Confidence

Kids learn by observing adult behaviors. You can model confidence, positivity, and patience in your everyday actions.

5. Set Realistic Goals and Celebrate Successes

Help your child to dictate realistic and achievable goals, whether it's finishing their homework, mastering a new language, or developing their art skills. By celebrating with them regardless of the outcome, you can have them believe in their own ability.

6. Promote Regular Physical Activity

Sports, yoga or playing outdoors are beneficial for your child's physical health and mental well-being. Engaging in physical activity can help build self-esteem and mood regulation and ultimately reinforces confidence.

7. Support Healthy Social Interactions

By promoting friendships and communal activities, you're allowing your child to continue to develop communication skills and social-emotional skills. People who have positive social connections with friends and family report that they feel accepted, their confidence is reinforced and they, too, play a positive role in society.  

8. Provide Constructive and Encouraging Feedback

It is essential that you give your child feedback, and do so in a balanced way. Children, especially younger ones, need to feel that their work will be recognized, honor their contributions and direct their improvement.  Supporting children with positive recognition will help contribute to a realistic and healthy self-image. 

9. Ensure Sufficient Sleep for Emotional Stability

Establishing routines will without a doubt improve your child's mental health. Adequate sleep will offer benefits including improved focus, improved mood and emotional states, and overall mental health. Well-rested children will be better able to withstand small challenges, allowing their confidence to grow.

10. Teach Effective Problem-Solving Skills

Teach your child to take a big problem or issue and break it down into manageable parts, or steps. Encourage your child to consider solutions or alternate solutions independently before intervening. The skill of evaluating a problem or situation will develop resilience and a sense of independence and confidence in their ability to trust a decision they made alone.

At The Notebook School, we promote holistic education including the habits of confidence building. We incorporate lessons into our curriculum and school instruction. Our goal is to develop every student into a potential leader or a person with burgeoning communication skills or amongst those possessing critical thinking and problem-solving abilities - all of which will help them move forward in their lives.