I have learned over the twenty-plus years that I’ve
been an educator that it doesn’t matter how you teach something or how much
help a child receives if that child doesn’t believe he or she can do the
work a struggle almost always ensues; whether it’s academic, mental, or
emotional. Self-confidence is an essential ingredient in a child’s ability to
learn. And breaking through the barrier is one of the most important things we
must do if the child is to succeed. But how do we do that?
The reasons for low self-confidence in children
can be many, most of which are far beyond a counselor's ability to tackle. But
we can help children identify ways they can boost their own belief in
themselves regardless of their circumstances. Every child deserves to
see themselves through a positive lens.
Here are five tips for helping your students boost
their self-confidence and help them believe they can achieve what they think they
can’t.
Tip #1: NAME AND DESCRIBE FEELINGS
Often, children experience frustration and
insecurity because they can’t name what they’re feeling. Or they are not aware
that what they are feeling is normal. Helping them recognize feelings like
happiness, sadness, anger, and fear can give them words to express emotions and
identify what makes them feel these things.
Tip #2: IDENTIFY POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REACTIONS
Children in elementary school sometimes don’t have
guidance or experience in reacting to others’ actions. Helping them recognize
they have choices when it comes to reacting is important to giving them tools
to help them not internalize unconstructive, negative feedback.
Tip #3: LIST THINGS THEY LIKE ABOUT THEMSELVES
This is one of the most important ways any role
model can help a child build self-confidence. Knowing what they are good at can
help them see that not everything others say in anger to them represents truth.
You might be interested in It’s Good to Be Me book video with activities to help bolster self-confidence.
Tip #4: IDENTIFY THOSE WHO LOVE THEM
Among other things, knowing who loves us creates
safe spaces to talk about hurtful feelings. It also counteracts the headspace
lists of people who don’t like them can take up which unfortunately become
their primary way of thinking about themselves.
Tip #5: HELP THEM EMBRACE FEAR
Fear is just a feeling, but it can be overwhelming
for any age. Fear can make things seem more real than they may be.
Understanding that it’s okay to be afraid and that it’s just a feeling, like
happiness or sadness, can take away from of the strength of fear and anxiety.
These tips are just a beginning for helping a
child build self-confidence. If you’re looking for a resource that can be
utilized in counseling sessions or sent home to parents, Somebodyness
might be your answer. Somebodyness is
an activity book for children 6 to 10 years old that outlines fun and
interesting ways to practice these tips with children. It includes activities
to engage children through art therapy, self-reflection, and self-awareness.
It’s an interactive way to help children visualize their strengths and
weakness, how things others say to them—positive or negative—make them feel,
identify the things that make them unique, and how to handle negative feedback
that may cause them to feel sadness, anger, or fear.
Here
are some ways you might use this activity book with a student:
(*) Send a book home with parents when they
request help (this is one of the most effective ways to use it with students)
(*) After a counseling session hand one to your student
and have them work in it independently
(*) Use it as part of your individual counseling
sessions (do a couple pages each session)
(*) Print them and select certain pages to work
with students individually or in small groups
(*) Have them be a part of a whole class lesson
(ie teach lesson about self-confidence then give each student their own book)
(*) After a student session have a folder where
students complete five pages and then during next week’s session you discuss
those five and she/he gets another five until the entire book is completed
How do help your students improve their
confidence?