listen to them and praise their achievements, encourage them in their various hobbies and new experiences
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NOW CLOSED: Win £100 John Lewis voucher with The Lion Inside
(280 Posts)From the creator of the known and loved Bright Side lifestyle brand, Rachel Bright, and illustrator of Oi Frog!, Jim Field, comes a feel good rhyming story about one little mouse trying to make himself heard and discovering along the way that even the smallest of us can have the heart of a lion.
The Lion Inside is perfect for fans of Giraffes Can't Dance. This stylish book from two contemporary stars really is something to shout about - it will make you laugh, cry and want to read it every bedtime.
Share your tips for boosting confidence in small children on this thread below for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher and a signed copy of The Lion Inside.
This competition ends midday on 8 July 2016.
The Lion Inside can be purchased online and from all good booksellers.
Be constant in your love and cherish each shared moment with your grandchildren. Be a good listener and encourage their individual talents. Have fun, enjoy their company and maintain a level of discipline that all family members are comfortable with.
Don't laugh at them when they get things wrong (I know it can be hard sometimes when we think it's funny, but it can knock their confidence).
Praise them never talk down to them give them choices within reason acknowledge good behaviour explain why bad behaviour is not tolerated. Give lots of cuddles and tell them you love them ,show love in front of them and encourage them to express their feelings and never laugh at their worries reassure them.
Just be there. If they know your there no matter what, come rain or shine that will really matter.
I was brought up with criticism, even now Im told how useless I am etc. I brought up my daughter by telling her how much I loved her and how clever she was, to build up herself esteem. In turn I encourage my DGD to explore her fancies, dress up, role play, art and crafts and I and DD tell her how clever and beautiful she is. These are the most important messages to give a child as well as hugs and love.
She will never end up lacking confidence like me.
I've always tried to strike a balance between meeting the child where they are (so not expecting too much of them or making them think they're not OK) but also scaffolding them to make that next small step. So for example my daughter was excruciatingly shy (not really now which is lovely) so that if someone came to the house, whether she knew & liked them or not, she would run upstairs and not want to come down. I always said she had to come down, smile and say hello, but then she didn't need to talk or stay. I explained that they might worry she didn't like them if she didn't do just that (helping her see it wasn't all about her). I hoped that respected that it was genuinely difficult for her but also expected her to just try a little. All the comments here have been really lovely and it is so important (and I know so hard to get right!)
Leave library books around the house so that small children pick them up of their own free will. It encourages them to look at pictures and try to read.
Praise, praise and more praise. Also what worked for my children were after school clubs and hobbies, really seemed to boost their confidence.
Praise is important (as is discipline) but also listening to them. Each little person is unique in their own way and this should be stressed. Teach them to be comfortable in their own skins and abilities.
Always encouragement and praise.
Get down on their level, really listen to what they are saying and show you are taking them seriously, praise whenever possible.
Always get down to their level , when talking to small people, that way you're not seen as looking down on them. Praise every wee effort , whether it comes off , or not and always , always let them know how much you love them .
small targets, visible rewaconversrds, let them join in bigger conversations even when they have no influence over the decision, they can learn how and why that decision was reached
When talking to them try and crouch down to their level so they are not intimidated.
Keep in touch with their school, teachers and friends parents and make sure they are happy at school and with their friend group.
After school activities and clubs (like girls guides) can help build skills and build confidence.
Always tell them you are proud of them, and that you love them.
Let them develop at their own pace and don't push them too hard. Make sure that they know that they are perfect just the way they are and that everyone is different and people have individual talents. They might not be great at Maths, but they catch a ball much better than you do.
Simply make sure they know they are loved and will always be supported, whatever life throws at them.
The very best way to encourage a growth in confidence in children (well, actually anyone of any age really) is to support them in what they're trying to do but DON'T DO IT FOR THEM - give simple instructions or show them, then talk them through the task as they do it themselves and go back and repeat the bit that was difficult patiently encouraging them to 'have a go'. Remember more recently when you were struggling with some IT task - there's no point in some wiz kid doing it and then getting impatient with you when you couldn't grasp it straight away. Most parents just don't get the time to have that amount of patience - that's our job!! It also helps to have a calm peaceful environment and lots of time in which to try new things. Have a go, then praise them have a break and go back to it later if they seem stressed.
The sense of achievement for having done it yourself (regardless of the amount of help you received) will encourage anyone to believe they can overcome problems of any kind.
Let them help plan meals. Make a shopping list with cutout pictures of the food they are going to buy. Take them shopping and let them select the food. Some stores do a mini shopping trolley. Then let them help prepare the meal. Their parents may not have the time but as a grandparent I do.
Show and give them love. Listen and talk and sing with them. Comfort them when they are hurting, cheer and praise them on every occasion no matter how small it seems. Don't punish them without explanation when they are not behaving appropriately. Take them for walks and visits places like farms and zoos -interesting places as they learn a lot everyday.. Show them to love and care for others as you love them and care for them. Cherish every minutes with them.
Kids like to hang out with their friends, but it's also important for them to be around a variety of grown-ups. Spending time with older people expands your child's world, forces them to talk to adults besides you, and gives them different ways of thinking. Research has also shown that having a close relationship with a particular grown-up -- a teacher, an uncle, a babysitter, or a friend's parent -- makes children more resilient.
reinforce positive behaviour to build their confidence. Take time to sit down and listen to them so they are able to share things with you freely. Support them without actually doing things for them so they can learn to do things themselves and that will give them confidence.
Listen to your child with no distractions and make sure they know you are listening and that you will support without judgement.
Always praise every little triumph never laugh at them. Encourage them in everything they do never pressure them to perform in front of others. Having been brought up with constant criticism I know how much this destroys self confidence.
encouraging independence as early as possible gives the children confidence
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