All parents want their children to succeed in life. The best way to help them succeed is by actively support, encourage and guide them throughout their early years. Here are some parenting tips to help raise confident and independent children.
Parental Support
Parents have the power to easily crush or uplift their children, regardless of how old the children are. And this means parental support is crucial particularly at important times of children’s lives, says Erin Shale, Melbournian teacher and careers counselor.
“Often, the children who have the greatest self-confidence and who thrive down the track of life know their parents back them whatever path they choose,” Shale writes in the article entitled “Tools for Success” which appeared in the 2009 DUX magazine, an educational guide in Melbourne.
Parents as Teachers
Parents are children’s first and most important teachers. Teach them about life from a young age. Involve children in family decisions, ask them how they feel about important events around them and give them opportunities to shoulder some responsibilities. Young people who succeed in life often are able to take on new responsibilities and show initiative in schools and at social settings, stresses Shale.
Discovering Children’s Passion
Like adults, most children have their own passion. While some discover it early in life, others need time and help to find what they love doing most. Parents have a crucial role here. Help children discover their passion by encouraging participation in sports, music and other activities both in and out of school and taking them to the library to see what interests them.
For older children, parents can help them check out short courses provided by local institutes or local councils. It’s also a great opportunity for the kids to meet and make new friends, which in turn helps develop self-confidence and social skills.
Housework, Voluntary Work and Part-time Work
Giving children responsibilities that fit their age skills will encourage independence and boost self-esteem. Younger children can be given simple house chores such as raking leaves in the garden, folding clothes and walking the dog.
Shale says parents can also encourage teens to do voluntary work or part-time work. Voluntary work allows young people to develop communication, leadership and organizational skills while fostering compassion and empathy in them. Part-time work helps too because it gives teens a taste of greater responsibility and creates environments in which the child has to work independently as well as in a team.
Experiencing Failures and Disappointments
Life is full of uncertainties, failures and disappointments. And it’s crucial that children understand this so that they have no illusions of life. They need to experience failures and disappointments to develop the resilience to thrive and succeed in life. Teach children that it’s initiative, participation and giving their best that count, not winning (although winning will be a great bonus). Be there for them when they fail. Encourage them to learn from their mistakes.
Children need their parents to thrive and succeed in life. Parental support and guidance; helping children discover their passion; encouraging housework, voluntary work and part-time work as well as allowing them to experience failures and disappointments will go a long way in helping children be on their own feet successfully.
Those who find this article useful may also like to read Building Self-esteem in Children, Low Self-esteem in Children and Overcoming Shyness in Children.
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