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Some lovely tips on here
I read something once which I always try to adhere to.. When your child/grandchild comes to you to show you a picture they've drawn/painted - when you are praising them, focus on the child, not the picture. I realise how easy it is to do this - it's a simple thing, but it's effective - it shows them you are proud of them, not just what they can do.
Another easy one - tell them everyday how special they are. Remember whenever you have to pull them up on something - misbehaving, etc - when the telling off is done - remind them they are still loved, even though you might not love the things they do, you still love them

Lots of praise and making time to listen

Teach your child to help others from an early age, to accept that change is a necessary aspect of life, to set reasonable goals, and finally, encourage your child to be a friend in order to get friends.

So important to listen - this will make them feel important. Talk about all their great qualities and just be there for them and reassure!

encouraging independence as early as possible gives the children confidence

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.

Listen to your child with no distractions and make sure they know you are listening and that you will support without judgement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Simply make sure they know they are loved and will always be supported, whatever life throws at 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.

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.

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

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 .

Get down on their level, really listen to what they are saying and show you are taking them seriously, praise whenever possible.

Always encouragement and praise.

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.

Praise, praise and more praise. Also what worked for my children were after school clubs and hobbies, really seemed to boost their confidence.

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.

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!)

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.

Just be there. If they know your there no matter what, come rain or shine that will really matter.