Teaching Kids Confidence - How Not Knowing the Answer is a Good Thing!
BOLD! COURAGEOUS! CONFIDENT! CREATIVE!
What wonderful characteristics these are to possess. Being self-reliant is healthy. It’s awesome, in fact!
We’d all love to be described with these adjectives, and other words that are strong and empowering! And let’s admit it, we beam with pride when someone compliments our child for being brave, confident or full of life.
So how do we mould our little minis into super-impressive people?How can we help our kids FLY when it comes to embodying confidence?
What can we do now to make sure our babies grow to be super-powered additions to society?
To find the answer, let’s circle back around to growth and fixed mindsets.
Growth and Fixed
Time and time again, studies have proven that students who exercise a growth-based mindset, respond better to constructive criticism, are able to more easily increase intelligence & respond more positively to correction.
In other words, children who believe in/have a growth mindset and know that intelligence is malleable will learn better and be more open to self betterment. That’s how we want our kids to rock it, right?!
This means that as parents, we have to start early with teaching our children that it’s okay not to have all the answers. That’s the beauty of growth and learning (and life)!
When we have a fixed mindset that says, “I can never learn to do that. I’m just not that smart/talented/capable.” It can be SUPER dangerous for our ability to deal with the life-y stuff.
No one is born knowing how to bake perfect chocolate chip cookies or drive a car. In the same way that no child is born believing intelligence is fixed or that failure poses a major threat.
Almost every single thing we do and think is learned behaviour, and that’s why cultivating curiosity in your kids is crucial to long-term confidence and crafting ability to delve head first into any problems they may have to fix.
It’s Awesome to Not Have All The Answers!
Teach your children that it’s super cool to not have all the answers…yet! This means there’s an unlimited potential for growth and learning, and to experience self-betterment… How cool is that!?
Errors are part of any learning process, so always leave room for improvement. No one likes being around a know-it-all, so it’s important to teach your child to keep an open mind.
Create an environment where it’s safe to say, “I don't know, let’s find out together!” That’s the perfect way to plant lasting seeds of confidence and perseverance in the nature of your child.
Mistakes are awesome! Challenges rock! Bring em’ on!
Cultivate Curiosity
Curiosity is a force to be reckoned with. The right mix of an inquisitive child and asking quality questions is sure to stimulate a super-hungry mind.
Seek out teachable moments in the daily events of your child’s experience. Encourage critical thinking and problem-solving. Recognise the thirst for knowledge and reward connection with people and nature.
Explore everything!
Value and REWARD those awesome little humans when they whip out that curiosity!
These are all great, big opportunities for you as a parent to skyrocket your kiddos to the land where being successful curators of confidence is second nature!
Whether you’re training your dog to learn new tricks or mastering math, an inquisitive mind will take you to the stars! Remember…it really is okay to not have all the answers!
Watch my video below for examples and simple tips to help your kiddos be confident when they they don’t know the answers.
XO Lisa OX
TL;DR?
Read the blog post that will help you teach your kids they don't have to always know the answer
Watch the video and help your child's confidence grow
Grab the action guide and get on the way to helping your child learn they don't have to know all the answers
