Do you have a child who is hesitant to try new things? Who would rather sit and stare at a book because they are convinced, they can’t do it, even before they try?

Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss how confidence can be encouraged in even the most hesitant children and chart a map of seven key lessons for building self-confidence in your homeschooled child.

The Hesitant Child

Do you have a child who is hesitant to try new things? Who would rather sit and stare at a book because they are convinced they can’t do it before they even try? Self-confidence is an essential life skill, enabling a child to face challenges, cope with frustration, and try their best at new things.

Seven Key Lessons to Build Self-Confidence in your homeschooled child.

1. First and foremost, self-confidence is knowing you are a child of God. He has given you gifts and talents and expects you to use them. When you know that, it becomes easier to believe in yourself. One of the best results of self-confidence is the ability to do the right thing even when it is unpopular, which is part of life in the world today.

2. Model confidence for your children. Tell them that sometimes new things make you nervous or stressed out, but they mostly turn out fine. We were not created to worry but to try to discern God’s will for us. Sometimes, that means doing something new or out of our comfort zone.

3. Praise sincerely. That doesn’t mean constantly. Constant praise diminishes the effect and kids know insincerity when they hear it. It’s a “you get a sticker for everything” culture. Praise when something is truly praiseworthy and make it meaningful. It doesn’t have to be direct praise. You tell Daddy that little Johnny took over for you to make dinner when you were called away. He was a lifesaver. You don’t have to say to him directly. Everyone will know that he saved the day. And he’ll know it, too.

4. Help them set realistic goals. Some kids will set the bar for themselves too high for their developmental age.

5. Guide them in problem-solving, ask why something isn’t working, help troubleshoot the problem, and let them work it through.

6. Let them fail. It’s the best teacher. Let them see that sometimes, even our best efforts are not enough to reach a goal, and that’s okay.

7. Give them responsibilities and their completion opportunities to earn privileges. Children gain confidence in their abilities when they accomplish something – not when they get an unearned trophy. Start with household responsibilities such as yard work or babysitting. As they gain skills, they can market them.

Epilogue: Two of my grandkids were hired to help at a large family gathering – mainly to entertain little ones. They did that but also helped with party cleanup. Got glowing reviews and tipped!)

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