Module 6

Building Self-Confidence in Children

Brief Overview

This module, Building Self-Confidence in Children, provides students, parents and teachers with foundational knowledge about building Self - confidence in children

For teachers and parents, this module raises awareness on why self-confidence is so important for children’s wellbeing. It emphasises their self-esteem and it’s development.

It provides teachers and parents with simple instruments and techniques to foster children’s self-esteem

Learning Objectives:

Provide teachers and students with foundational knowledge about building Self -confidence in children
Raise awareness on why self-confidence is so important for children’s wellbeing
Provide parents with simple instruments to foster the subject of self-confidence in their children’s behaviour and their own
Provide practical strategies and tools that parents and teachers can use to overcome , set goals, and cultivate a positive self-image in their children’s growth .

Key Concepts and Theories 1

Why Does Self-confidence Matter?

Children who feel good about themselves have the confidence to try their best at new things. They feel proud of what they can do. Self-esteem also helps kids cope with mistakes. They feel encouraged to try again, even if they fail at first. Self-esteem helps kids do better at school, at home, and with friends.

Kids with low self-confidence feel unsure of themselves. If they think others won't accept them, they may not join in. They may let others treat them poorly and have a hard time standing up for themselves. They may give up easily or not try at all. Kids with low self-esteem find it hard to cope when they make a mistake, lose, or fail. So they may not do as well as they could.

Key Concepts and Theories 2

How Does Self-Confidence Develop?

Self-esteem can start to develop when a baby gets positive attention and loving care. It begins when a child feels safe, loved, and accepted.

As babies become toddlers and young children, they're able to do some things by themselves. They feel good about when they can use their new skills. Their self-esteem grows when parents pay attention, let them try, give smiles, and show pride.

As kids get older, self-confidence can grow any time children try things, do things, and learn things. This may happen when kids:

make progress toward a goal
learn things at school and get good grades
make friends and get along
do favourite activities, like music, sports, art, cooking, tech skills
help, give, or be kind
try hard at something and get praised
feel understood and accepted

When kids have self-esteem, they feel confident, capable, and accepted for who they are.

Key Concepts and Theories 3

How Can Parents Help Build Self-Esteem?

If kids don’t feel good about themselves, parents can help. Boost your child’s self-esteem by doing things like being a good role model. Help kids learn to do stuff so they can feel proud. Praise effort and ban harsh criticism.

By helping build kids’ self-esteem, you let them know how valued and important they are.

As a parent, you want your kids to feel happy about themselves and have good self-esteem (also called a self-image). Your words and actions affect it more than anything else, starting from when they’re babies. Your child absorbs your tone of voice, body language, and every expression.

Teach by showing and helping at first. Then let kids do what they can, even if they make mistakes. This is a key part of developing positive self-esteem. Be sure your kids get a chance to learn, try, and feel proud. Don't make new challenges too easy or too hard. Encourage them to always do their best but explain that they don’t have to be perfect. No one is!

Practical Strategies and Techniques

Help your child learn to do things. As a child grows, things like learning to dress, read, or ride a bike are chances for self-esteem to grow.
Praise efforts. Avoid praising only results
Be honest. Praise that doesn't feel earned doesn't ring true.
Be a good role model. When you put effort into everyday tasks (like making a meal or washing the dishes), you set a good example. Your child learns to put effort into doing homework, cleaning up toys, or making the bed.
Avoid being critical. The messages kids hear about themselves from others often affect how they feel about themselves.
Focus on strengths. Pay attention to what your kids do well and enjoy. Make sure they have chances to develop these things
Encourage healthy friendships. Teach kids that the best friends are those who treat them well, and lift them up by what they say and do.
Notice what goes well. It can be easy for kids to focus on what went wrong, like not doing well on a test. Unless they balance it with the good, they'll just feel bad.
Let kids help and give. Self-confidence grows when kids see that what they do matters to others.

Interactive Activity 1

Activity 1: SOMETHING HAS CHANGED AND SOMETHING REMAINS THE SAME

Objectives

As parents, we have the responsibility to encourage our child to develop their self- confidence.

Building confidence in kids is an important part of helping them grow into happy, successful adults. Confidence can affect every aspect of a child’s life, from their social skills to their resilience.

Understanding and encouraging confidence and self-esteem can empower children to try new things, express their thoughts, and believe in their abilities.

Materials Needed

Writing utensils
Worksheet for parents : Activities and relationship
Worksheet for parents: letter

Instructions

Identify favourite activities with their children three years ago - Distribute a copy of the Activity and Relationship Parent Worksheet
Are the activities the same? Why?
Is the relationship the same? Why?
What has changed?
How would you like to be treated by your children?
Does the fact that children at this age have a greater need for independence and independence mean that they don't need their parents at all? Why?
How do you think your children are developing in a relationship with you? Why? Have they stopped loving you?

Conclusion

Invite parents to reflect on valuable strategies and encourage regular application to support their child’s growth and change and identify emotional raiseness

Interactive Activity 2

Activity 2 “A Parents’ Letter”

Instructions

Each participant receives a copy of the 'Letter' parent worksheet and has to write a letter to their children:

1. Expressing their feelings about their children (Parents should write what their children mean to them)

2 Telling them how they want to be treated by them.

3. Five keywords that would motivate your children to feel free and communicate about sensitive topics.

4.After completing the activity, everyone should take the letter with them, if they want to give or read it to their children.

5. Whoever wants can read the letter in front of the others.

Multimedia Content

Reflection and Discussion

Discussion

1. How did you feel while writing the letter?

2. What was easy or difficult for you? Why?

Conclusion

During puberty children usually have a need for more independence and privacy. Parents, on the one hand, tend to treat their teenagers as if they were still small children, and on the other hand, demand that they behave like adults. It's the same with teenagers. They want to be treated like adults, but on the other hand, it is difficult for them to take full responsibility for their actions. Both parents and children have to get used to and accept this new situation.

Sometimes it is very difficult to speak openly about yourself and ask for help or support even if it is from someone who knows you very well and cares for you, especially when it happens in a period of life when the need for independence and freedom of personal selection has increased. Admitting that we need support is a virtue, not a flaw.

Practising open communication in imagined circumstances prepares us to be able to communicate openly in real situations.

Additional Resources

Unit Summary

The Module emphasizes the collaborative role of caregivers and educators in nurturing a child’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth. The key takeaways are:

Influence of Positive Reinforcement: Both teachers and parents should offer consistent positive feedback to children, acknowledging their efforts, achievements, and unique qualities. This reinforcement helps children develop a sense of competence and confidence.
Creating Supportive Environments: A nurturing, supportive environment at home and in the classroom promotes emotional security, which is essential for children to feel confident in expressing themselves and taking risks in learning.
Role Modeling: Teachers and parents act as role models in demonstrating healthy self-esteem, resilience, and self-compassion. Children often mirror these behaviors, so it’s important for adults to model positive self-image and confidence.
Encouraging Autonomy: Giving children opportunities to make choices, solve problems, and engage in decision-making fosters independence and empowers them to trust in their abilities.
Promoting a Growth Mindset: Encouraging a growth mindset—where children understand that abilities can improve with effort—helps build resilience and a positive outlook on challenges and mistakes, which is critical for self-confidence.
Addressing Negative Influences: Teachers and parents should actively work to counteract any negative influences on children’s self-image, whether from bullying, unrealistic comparisons, or societal pressures. They should focus on developing the child’s inner strengths and values.
Collaboration Between Parents and Teachers: Strong communication and partnership between parents and teachers ensure a consistent, reinforcing message for the child and a united front in promoting healthy self-esteem.

Overall, the module stresses the importance of a team effort between educators and parents in fostering a child's belief in their own abilities, which is foundational for lifelong confidence and success.

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