Raise Confident Kids with 12 Simple Routines by Alla Kazovsky
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “CONFIDENT” in the following way: 1 : full of conviction : certain <confident of success> <confident that conditions will improve> 2 : having or showing assurance and self-reliance <a confident young businessman> <a confident manner> Synonyms: secure, self-asserting, self-assured Antonyms: insecure, self-doubting As a parent, you can contribute a great deal to the process of raising a confident human being. If you listen, connect, and focus on spending time consistently, you can be certain that you have done your part! Here are 12 routines that have been proven successful:
- Daily schedule should include play. Play together focusing on spending time. Even during clean-up you can play your child’s favorite music.
- Get them involved. Have them help you. Ask for their opinion.
- Have meals together. You can talk about school, books, friends, projects, music, etc.
- Read to your child. “Special Time” is a wonderful chance to read out loud and to snuggle up before bed.
- Make learning a game.
- Teach them to take risks and experiment; it’s about the process, not the product.
- When dealing with obstacles, do not overemphasize the end result. It’s all about growth mindset; success stems from effort, not ability. If your daughter gets a good grade at school, value effort more than outcome when praising her.
- Admit your own mistakes!
- Don’t ignore or dismiss feelings. Teach how to move past bad feelings instead of dwelling on them.
- Help learn how to enjoy being by themselves. Have them make “what to do when I am bored list” and have it displayed prominently.
- Positively reinforce appropriate behavior to make them feel valued and respected even when they make mistakes. Give your child the final say. Help your child find own solutions: “what could you do differently next time?” Share your ideas, consider his opinion, weigh pros and cons together.
- Find ways for your child to show that she cares, give her opportunities to reach out to others. If your daughter wants to buy a hamster for her first grade class with her birthday money, encourage her generosity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alla Kazovsky, an award-winning architect and experienced creativity coach is no stranger to creative repression; she grew up in the Soviet Union. Having immigrated to the United States, she was able to uncover her own creative potential and has dedicated her life to helping others do the same. Viscerally knowing the importance of nurturing imagination in all phases of life, Alla invented and directed Children’s Architecture Workshops held at SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture). In addition, she has been invited to design curricula and teach workshops for children and educators at various museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and Skirball Cultural Center. Kazovsky’s unique site-specific Discovery Carts helped thousands of families to gain greater understanding and enjoyment of The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. Alla’s work can be seen at: www.designedrealestate.com and www.live-by-design.net. You can also check out her Huffington Post blog.
Robert Hammond, CoFounder of The High Line
