In order to increase self-confidence with children, there are a few different activities that may help. Building a child’s self-confidence allows the child to have a better sense of self. Children who have higher self-confidence tend to be more willing to take risks such as asking questions, participating in the classroom, and problem-solving different solutions even with the possibility that they may be wrong.
Activity #1:
Identifying a Support System
In order to complete this activity, take a piece of construction paper and draw an inner circle with two outer circles. You can also google this design and print it out.
- Small Circle- Self
- Inner Circle- Have the child identify the closest people in their life which typically includes their immediate family
- Next Circle- Have the child identify family members they are very close and the friends they are closest to
- Last Circle- Have the child identify good friends and other close family members
- Beyond that- Explain to the child that the space beyond the support system includes acquaintances and strangers.
- It should be explained to the child that the people in their life that are most important take priority. While it is important to help others and be a community helper, the negative opinions of people in that outer space do not matter because they are so far removed from the child.
- This process helps children deal with strangers and acquaintances
Completing this task helps children to see their personal support system in a visual format. It helps them to prioritize the most importance people in their lives. Through explanation, the parent can explain that people that fall outside of the support system are strangers and acquaintances.
Important points to make:
- The Support System may change over time. People may move from one layer to another or may drift from the system completely. New people may enter the support system. That is okay as time changes things.
- People who fall beyond the support system are ‘acquaintances and strangers’. These people may have negative opinions but they are so far removed that their opinions do not mean anything. This helps the child to deal with insults and teasing as it tends to take the weight out of the comments.
Activity #2:
Identifying Safe People in School
Sit with the child to identify three adults in the school setting that they would feel comfortable going to if they were to have a problem in school. Having them think about it and write it down may help them to seek their help if and when it is needed.
Activity #3:
Identifying Strengths and Interests
Sit with the child and tell them that you want them to think of 30 strengths. Children tend to be surprised by the high number of thirty and seem to think it would be impossible that they could potentially have thirty strengths. Allow the child to provide their own strengths initially and include interests as well. Add words such as ‘caring, loves to cook, good friend’. As the child starts to struggle, ask them some questions such as ‘do you think you are kind?’ but let them lead the way to make the decision. You can also provide them with examples of times when they have been kind. For instance, ‘well remember that time when you helped your neighbor carry their groceries? or the time when you helped your friend after her cat died?’ You can look up a list of adjectives to help as well. If the child decides that that word does not describe them, move on and do not force it. Once completed, the child typically tends to be proud of their list. Have them read it aloud. You could frame the list or have the child keep it in a safe place. You could revisit the list periodically to add on additional strengths as well.