12 Tips for Raising Confident Kids in a Bustling World

All parents want what is best for their children, but parenting is extremely difficult. The modern world is constantly in a state of change, which can make learning how to raise a confident and successful child confusing. In fact, only 51% of mothers and 39% of fathers stated they feel they are doing a good job when it comes to raising their children. Below are twelve effective tips any parent can use to ensure they raise a confident child who is ready to tackle the world once they leave the nest: 

1. Use mistakes as a learning opportunity

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that everybody makes mistakes in life, regardless of their age. However, when raising a child, there are bound to be more mistakes than normal. While this is perfectly acceptable, it’s important to learn from these mistakes and to show your child how to turn a mistake into an opportunity for growth.

2. Encourage your children to try new things

Part of becoming independent in life is learning about personal interests, but a child can’t do this if they aren’t allowed to explore their passions. Encourage your child to try new things and give them ample opportunity to be exposed to different interests. Whether that’s signing them up for multiple different types of sports, allowing them to run free in the toy aisle of a store, or something similar, allow your child to express their creative freedom.

3. Allow your children to fail every once in awhile

As a parent, it’s natural to want to see your child always succeed. Failure is a part of life, however, and it is sometimes the best teacher. Learn when to let your child try and fail so they can develop and learn from that failure. This doesn’t mean abandoning your child when they need help, but not always jumping to their side from the start is an excellent strategy for growth.

4. Guide your child towards their passion

All parents should serve as a guide for their children when it comes to finding what your child’s passion may be. They won’t be able to choose a passion if they don’t know their options, so demonstrate what different passions may look like so your child can see what fits their personality. 

5. Show your child how to be independent

Out of all the qualities that go into success, independence is one of the most important traits for a person to develop. As a parent, it’s your job to show your child how to be independent in life. Whether that means something as simple as teaching your child how to order take-out food over the phone or something more complicated such as addressing a wound, independence is crucial for child development.

6. Set achievable goals for your children

Goal setting is an important aspect of personal growth but learning how to set goals is a challenge. The trick is setting goals that are achievable, as opposed to lofty. Understand your child’s capabilities in order to set achievable goals in life for them, whether that be school or extracurricular activities.  

7. Appreciate effort regardless of the outcome

It’s only natural to want your child to be the best as a parent, but it’s also important to acknowledge effort regardless of an outcome. Whether it’s a sporting event, academic performance, or something similar, appreciate the effort your child puts into something even if the outcome isn’t what was desired. 

8. Give your child responsibilities

Responsibility is a foundation of independence. As your child begins to get older, start to give them more responsibilities and chances to be independent. For example, if there is a plumbing issue in your home that you are unable to solve on your own, consider allowing your child to research plumbing near me online to see if they can find an accredited plumber for you. 

9. Share your own struggles with your child

Everybody is human which means everybody has their own personal struggles. Children often view their parents as perfect and hold themselves to an unnecessarily high standard as a result. Remind your child that you are human as well by sharing personal struggles you have gone through and how you overcame them. 

10. Ensure challenges are appropriate for their abilities

Challenging your child with new opportunities is important for personal growth, but you also need to understand your child’s limits. Setting a challenge for your child that is unachievable based on their current abilities can be counterproductive as your child will become frustrated. Focus on learning the extent of your child’s abilities so that you can set accurate challenges. 

11. Show interest in the things they are passionate about

Over life, your child will develop passions that you may not necessarily care about on a personal level. However, it’s important to show interest in the things your child cares about as their parent. Bond with your child over these interests rather than dismissing them if it is something you don’t personally enjoy. 

12. Do things with your child, rather than for them

A parent that does everything for their children will find that their children lack independence. Serve as a teacher for your child and work with them on problems, as opposed to always solving it without showing them how. Your child needs to learn how to handle issues on their own, but that also doesn’t mean you should leave them out to dry. 

The Bottom Line

There is no formula when it comes to parenting. All parents operate differently and there is a slew of ways to ensure your child will be successful and independent once they grow up. With that in mind, the above twelve tips can help both new and established parents navigate the turbulence of the modern world. Avoid settling for feeling as if you are slacking on your parenting, and take action to address any issues you may feel you have in your job as a parent.