Self-confidence and academic motivation

When a child has self-confidence, they trust in themselves and their abilities. To build self-confidence, children need to experience success. Simple successes can take the form of winning a gold medal in karate, getting a good grade in math, or simply tying their own shoelaces. You can create opportunities for your child to experience success on a daily basis by encouraging them to take on age-appropriate challenges. Here are some examples:

• Packing their school bag for the next day
• Reviewing vocabulary words without your help
• Overcoming their shyness and asking a question in class
• Etc.

Cheering on your child is a great way to boost their confidence. You can regularly encourage them to take chances and believe in themselves. Remember to be sincere; there’s no need to go overboard! Here are some simple ways to encourage your child:

• Use words of encouragement (e.g., “You can do it,” “I trust you!”)
• Applaud their accomplishments
• Share in their joy when they rise to a challenge
• Etc.

Valuing hard work is a good way to increase self-confidence. Plus, it fosters autonomy and self-motivation. Wondering how to celebrate your child’s efforts? Try the following:

• Praise your child whenever they make progress
• Let them know that you’re proud of their hard work and perseverance
• Use body language (e.g., applaud, give a thumbs up)
• Etc.

Children gain confidence when they know they’re supported. They need encouragement, but they also need to feel that you’ve got their back. There are plenty of ways to support your child:

• Let them talk freely about their fears, joys, and dreams
• Be open to dialogue
• Help guide their decisions
• Teach them that failure is not the end of the world
• Etc.

To help your child develop self-confidence and good judgment, ask for their feedback on a variety of topics and take their opinions into account. For example, you can ask for the following:

• Their advice (e.g., on outfits, logistics)
• Their opinion on a topic of current interest
• Lunchbox suggestions
• Ideas for their homework routine
• Etc.