We want the best for our kids. But wanting them to be good at everything can actually impede their intellectual growth—and introduce stress and anxiety into their lives.
Children can become self-confident when they’re given the chance to solve their own problems. By overcoming obstacles without your help, they’ll have the power to tackle bigger problems in the future.
What can you do to be a supportive parent? One, you can focus on your child’s strengths, not on their weaknesses. Two, you can keep an eye out for when they exhibit signs of stress, such as clenching their fists. Three, you can teach them how to calm down with techniques like controlled breathing and positive self-talk. And finally, offer them plenty of room to chase their passions instead of pushing them to get good grades and have well-rounded extracurriculars.
Your job isn’t to direct your child’s life, but to help them get to where they want to go. For more on how to raise a confident, competent kid, check out our Instaread on Thrivers.