“Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself” - Robert Collier

Self Confidence is very important for the progress of a student. It has been observed that students with low self confidence and low self esteem don’t excel in academics. One of the reasons of low self esteem in teens is the emotional and physical changes during this time. Other reasons could be poor academic performance, dropping out of school, health problems, fear of rejection, or family situation. Students who are not confident are often bullied and are also vulnerable to bad habits like smoking or drugs.

A confident child is one who believes in his ability to handle various challenges of life. Parents and teachers play a key role in helping students develop self-confidence. Through constant motivation, appreciation, and right guidance, a child’s confidence can be enhanced. Here are a few tips for developing self-confidence in a child.

Tips to Enhance Self Confidence

• Thinking Positively: Negative thoughts can never make one confident so the first step to help a child develop confidence is to help the child do away with all negative thoughts. Try to find the reasoning behind negative thoughts by talking to the child. Then convince the child to have faith on his ability and be self confident.

• Appreciation and admiration: A word of appreciation can do wonders. Teachers and parents must praise students on their accomplishments. This will encourage them to improve and excel further. Rewarding is a good way to appreciate.

• Sports and other activities: Students must take part in sports and other activities like painting contests, debates, etc. They must also go out on excursions and mix with other students. This will help them enhance their interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills and will surely increase their self confidence.

• Inspirational Books: Books area great source of inspiration, motivation, and positive thoughts. Inspirational or self-help books are a good way to improve self confidence so teenagers must be encouraged to develop a reading habit. This will also help them increase their knowledge and they will get a sense of achievement. This will indirectly lead to high morale.

• Decision-Making: A child must be allowed to take his own decisions and must be accountable for his actions. Both parents and teachers must guide children to take the right path but at the same time give them enough freedom to make important choices of life. Appreciate them when they take right decisions and guide them whenever they are wrong. This will slowly help them have confidence in their abilities.



• Dealing with failure: Students must be taught that failure and success are two sides of the same coin. They must do everything with complete honesty and determination but incase they don’t succeed it should not make them depressed. Tell them there is always a next time and that they should work even harder next time to achieve their goals.