The other day, our two-and-a-half year old was eating her breakfast – just like any morning – when out of the blue she exclaimed, “I so wonderful!”
Confidence? She’s definitely got it.
Of course, it’s my job as a parent to make sure her self-confidence stays at a healthy level. I remind her often that she’s beautiful and, because every strong woman is more than just a pretty face, I also tell her that she’s smart, funny, creative and, of course, wonderful.
I know the battle to maintain her self-esteem is never-ending, but it’s never too early to start. The following are just a few of the many methods I’ve used to help our toddler feel terrific about herself and confident around others.
ENCOURAGE THEM DURING NEW EXPERIENCES
For kids, just about any task is a new experience. As such, it might take a little while to get the hang of it, even if it’s a simple task like tying shoes or brushing teeth. Like any new challenge, confidence comes from experience. The more you do something, the better you become at it, and the more confident you become. As parents, it’s important for us to encourage our children during the first few attempts of a new experience. A little praise, even if the attempt isn’t perfect, will go a long way!
DON’T OVERREACT
The old saying – “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” – is a perfect example of this lesson. If your child makes a mistake, react calmly and don’t make a big deal out of it. Overreacting to minor mistakes might make your toddler feel “stupid,” which can lead to low self worth and low self esteem.
DON’T COMPARE
Statements like “Why can’t you be more like your brother?” are a sure-fire way to make a child feel insecure and inadequate. Comparing your child to others – friends or siblings – should be avoided. A better idea is to highlight your child’s differences and personal strengths, and remind her how these traits make her unique and special.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Your kids are constantly watching and learning from you, which is why it’s important to portray healthy, confident social skills yourself. In church, interact with fellow worshippers with confidence. During play dates, engage with other children her age (“Your shirt looks really nice, Jacob!”) to show her that there’s nothing to fear when it comes to communicating with others.
TAKE CARE OF THEIR SMILE
Kids (and adults) who have a healthy smile will feel naturally better about themselves. Regular brushing is important, but when they get older (around six years), products like ACT for Kids Mouthwash can help keep your child’s smile healthy and strong. Kids love ACT for Kids because it’s easy to use, tastes great, and has fun characters. Moms love it because it makes dental checkups easier and it makes teeth up to two times stronger and reduces cavities by up to 40 percent.
For more information about ACT for Kids, including a $1 coupon, check out the ACT for Kids website!
I was compensated for this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and ACT Kids blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.
Great post!
Love these tips – I think that one of the most important jobs that we have as moms is to help our kids grow up with confidence – to know what’s right and wrong, to make the right choices, to be sure enough about themselves to stand up for what they believe in. Great post 🙂
Awesome tips! Adults sometimes forget that their words are the ones that can make or break a child 🙂
So so important to lead by example!! Especially mom’s & their little girls! Great post! And how awesome is it that she already believes she’s WONDERFUL!!!!! 🙂