Self-confidence can do wonders in a kid’s life. It is the key to success and can help them achieve their dreams. A confident kid excels in all aspects of life. But like any other human being, kids can sometimes feel unsure about themselves.
That is why it is important that you learn how to build confidence in kids the right way. It is not always about lecturing your child or motivating them through words to enhance their self-belief. There are many other creative ways to make them realize their potential, worth, and competence. In this article, we will tell you about some games and activities that will indirectly yet effectively boost your kid’s confidence in a fun way. Check them out!
1. Outdoor Sports
Sports teach some of life’s best lessons. Being a part of a team gives your child the opportunity to interact with other kids and work towards a common goal. It will also teach them how to rise to the occasion and work hard when their teammates depend on them. In addition, playing team sports like football, cricket, baseball, or basketball teaches them how to be organized, respectful, and responsible. In this way, playing a sport will give them many opportunities to improve their self-worth and teach them some essential life skills and values.
2. Board Games
Board games like Snakes & Ladders, Ludo, and Chess can also help your kid regain their lost confidence. Playing with them makes them feel loved and valued, which makes them feel important and wanted. Moreover, games like Chess and Ludo can help them improve their decision-making skills, giving them even more confidence when they get good results. Alternatively, many classic board games are available to play online for free, some of which include classics:
- Yahtzee - The popular dice game can be enjoyed on desktop or your mobile device, in addition, the site features a helpful rulebook for new players.
- Cribbage - Long played due to its fast-paced gaming style, Cribbage is all about quickly scoring points. The online version features the game in easy, standard, and pro modes.
- Backgammon - Backgammon is a centuries old strategic board game for two players, however, the online version features a single player mode. The goal is to move pieces around a triangular board, using dice rolls to block opponents and carefully manage your checkers in order to successfully bear them off and win.
3. Household Chores
Handling responsibilities is the best way to enhance self-belief and confidence. Kids with low self-confidence feel bad about themselves and believe they cannot accomplish anything. So, household chores are the easiest way to make them realize you believe in them and that they have the ability to complete the tasks set to them. Ask them to complete daily chores like washing dishes, mopping the floor, or organizing the pantry. The more they accomplish, the more they feel good about themselves.
4. Artistic Hobbies
The best thing you can do for your kid is help them express themselves through different avenues. Encourage them to pick up an artistic hobby such as playing an instrument, drawing, singing, or dancing. Not only do these hobbies enhance their faith in themselves, but they also teach them new skills and improve their overall personality.
5. Set Up An Achievement Board
Won’t it be fun to make your kids look at all the great things they have achieved? To do so in a creative manner, you can set up an achievement board on which you write their latest achievements. You can decorate it with gold stars and other things your child loves. This way, they will always have something to cheer them up and make them feel proud of themselves whenever they feel low on confidence.
6. Storytelling
Storytelling is one of the best activities for children who feel shy talking to other people. It will also help them build good public speaking skills, which will help them combat stage fear and make them feel more confident in public. It is also a good way to build communication skills, which can help them make friends.
7. Thought Of the Day
All you need to do is, put around 100+ chits in a box and shake it well. Now, these chits are not supposed to be blank. Write a positive thought (like “Discipline is the key to success) on each of them. Ask your little one to pick out one chit a day from the box and read it out aloud. Then, ask them for examples of things they did that day that reinforced that thought. This activity will surely bring positivity to your kid’s life and make them feel confident in their capabilities. They can also share these thoughts with their friends and spread positivity.
8. Journaling
Journaling is a great way to help your kids vent out their frustrations as well as improve their writing skills. Ask your kid to maintain a daily diary where they write about their emotions, the day’s events, and their dreams in life. Once your kid is comfortable expressing their thoughts, they will start feeling confident about themselves. This habit will surely improve their understanding of their emotions and help them cope in a healthy manner.
9. Body Language Test
The body language test is a fun activity that you can do to teach your kids about negative and positive body language. For example, sitting with crossed arms, slouching, or avoiding eye contact are body gestures that a person with low confidence makes. Instead, ask them to sit up straight and maintain eye contact when talking to someone. You can also ask them to correct your body language whenever they see you falter. This way, they will learn more about other people’s body language and improve their own.
10. Talking To The Mirror
Talking to the mirror is another fun way to encounter self-doubt. Kids can get affected by many things, from getting personal comments on their looks or feeling underappreciated. Whenever you see your kid feeling low on confidence, ask them to stand in front of a mirror and say positive things about themselves. They will feel better about themselves, which will naturally improve their self-worth.
Tips For Boosting Your Child’s Confidence
Besides engaging your kids in games and activities, you can also do some other things to help them feel more confident. Here are some you can do:
1. Get Them A Pet
Bringing a pet home is a sensible decision if you want your kids to become responsible early. Having a dog, cat, or any other pet as their companion can boost their confidence significantly. In addition, successfully taking care of their pet will give your kid immense pleasure and assurance that they can do many things independently.
2. Celebrate Their Wins
You should celebrate all of your child’s wins, no matter how big or small. Let them know they deserve all the appreciation and credit for working hard and accomplishing something. It will also motivate them to work more diligently toward their goals. You can take them to watch a movie, a mall, or a fancy restaurant to reward them for their hard work.
3. Praise Their Efforts
As a parent, you should make your kids understand that trying or putting in the effort to achieve something is as important as succeeding. They should learn that it is not always about winning but the journey to get there. These learnings will help them figure out their mistakes and work to overcome them and improve their results the next time they try.
4. Talk To Them About Their Daily Life Challenges
Communicating with your kids will make them feel emotionally connected to you on a deeper level. They will feel loved, valued, and comfortable knowing that you are there for them. This way, their confidence will also improve, and they will be able to convey their daily life difficulties more openly.
With a little bit of support, affection, and communication, you can help your children overcome their lack of confidence and make them believe they can achieve anything if they have faith in themselves. Ultimately, all they want to know is that you will be there for them when the going gets tough.