Steps To Building Classroom Confidence In Your Child
An education is one of the greatest gifts any young person can have, and the UK is one of the highest ranking countries in the world for its school system.
As a parent, it’s only natural to want your child to make the most of every opportunity, but some young people lack the confidence to thrive in a school environment.
If you’re concerned about your child’s confidence at school or feel that they’re struggling to enjoy the learning experience, we have some excellent tips in this post.
Here’s how to build classroom confidence in your child and ensure they can look forward to a brighter future with nothing to hold them back.
Ask Your Child How They Feel About School
If you sense that your child is struggling with their confidence, ask them how they feel about school, as it gives you a chance to learn more about their experiences and see if there are any areas where they lack confidence.
For most children, school is the environment where they learn new things and socialise. However, some children might be dealing with negative experiences from bullying or feel low after underperforming in an exam.
Speaking to your child is the first step in understanding what might be holding them back, and once you know this, you can look at how to address the problem.
Silencing the inner critic
All of us have an inner voice, but for some people, this inner voice is excessively critical and can damage their confidence levels.
If your child is finding it hard to silence their inner critic, it’s essential to take steps to help them silence it now because confidence and self-esteem are central to healthy development.
There are many ways to support your child, including:
Highlight and embrace successes
Even the smallest success can be a significant achievement. For example, getting a B on a test paper is still an achievement, but many children choose to focus on the negatives instead of embracing the positives.
Don’t forget to tell your child that every achievement matters, no matter how small.
Acknowledge and accept failures, but don’t dwell on them
No one is perfect, and children need to understand that everyone experiences failure at some point in their lives.
However, it’s also important not to dwell on failures, as this can create a negative mindset that further damages confidence levels.
Encourage a growth mindset
A fixed mindset is a belief that intelligence is static, whereas a growth mindset is a belief that intelligence can be developed.
It’s essential to encourage a growth mindset in your child, as this will help them to understand that they can continuously improve and learn new things.
Building resilience
Resilience is the ability to cope with setbacks, and it’s a valuable quality for anyone to possess – especially young people.
If your child lacks resilience, they might find it hard to cope with challenges at school, which can lead to them feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Every time your child suffers a setback, it can then have a knock-on effect on their confidence levels.
The good news is there are plenty of ways you can teach your child to become more resilient, including:
● Helping them to understand that setbacks are normal
● Teaching them how to problem-solve
● Encouraging positive self-talk
● Providing emotional support
Remind Your Child About The Progression Opportunities Education Provides
It can be easy for children to get caught up in the here and now, but it’s important to remind them that education provides opportunities to progress in life. If your child secures good GCSEs, it can open doors for A Levels and then onto university.
Many young people get stuck in the present and fail to think about the future. If you can help your child to see the progression opportunities education provides, it might give them the motivation and confidence they need to succeed.
Teaching your child about the value of money from a young age is also beneficial because it enables them to understand that a good job means financial security.
Invest In A Tutor
If your child finds it hard to cope with school or struggles with a particular subject, investing in a tutor can make a big difference.
Tutors provide extra support and guidance outside the classroom, which can be vital for children struggling to keep up.
Whether it’s one subject that’s holding your child back or the general education experience, a specialist tutor works to build skills and confidence in learners so they can succeed.
Investing in education support from Fleet Tutors gives you and your child access to qualified tutors that offer an academic and holistic approach to building a better future both in – and out of – the classroom.
Mentoring Services
Mentors can also be helpful, as they can provide advice and support on dealing with specific problems. For example, if your child is being bullied, a mentor could give them the confidence to speak up and stand up for themselves.
Some schools even have mentoring programmes to help children, so it’s worth looking into any options.
Encourage Your Child To Take Part In Extracurricular Activities
Extra-curricular activities are an excellent way for children to develop new skills and interests and can also help boost confidence levels. When a child struggles in the classroom, encouraging them to enjoy a hobby could yield positive results.
There are plenty of activities on offer, from sports clubs to drama groups, so it’s worth taking the time to find something that interests your child. If they enjoy what they’re doing, they’re more likely to stick with it, improving their confidence levels over time.
Once you show your child that hard work and effort result in more achievements, they’ll be more likely to apply this life lesson to their studies.
Speak To The Teachers If You’re Concerned
If you’re worried about your child’s confidence levels or progress at school, speaking to their teachers is a good idea. They might be able to offer advice on how to support your child, or they could identify any areas of concern.
It can be difficult for parents to hear that their child is struggling, but getting professional feedback can be invaluable. It will also show your child that you’re supportive and willing to work together to find a solution.
Wrapping Up
Building confidence in children isn’t always easy, but it’s worth the effort. If your child lacks confidence, it can hold them back in all areas of life, including education.
By taking steps to improve resilience and self-esteem, you can set your child up for success both now and in the future.
If you’d like some support or feel your child could benefit from private tutoring, please feel free to contact our friendly team. Fleet Tutors is dedicated to providing learners with a fully bespoke experience tailored to their needs.
Our tutors work hard to help your child break through educational boundaries and confidently take on new challenges. Contact us today for a friendly chat. We look forward to supporting you.