SELF-CONFIDENCE AND LEARNING

Self-confident learners are successful learners. Recent research shows that "although there are many motivational constructs, self-efficacy [believe in one's own ability to performs a task] is one that is key to promoting students' engagement in learning" (1). Below are some tips on building your child's self-confidence in learning:

Set high but realistic expectations.
Set goals and standards that are age appropriate; recognize and encourage special talents; inform friends and family about your child's successes; and praise your children for success and great effort.
  • Achievement Tree - Make a tree out of packing paper or construction paper and tape it to the wall or a door. Cut leaves out of green construction paper. Each time the child has a success (i.e., spontaneously sharing toys with a sibling, finishing a school project), write the success on a leaf and stick it to the tree.
Stand back.
There are times when we need to step away and allow our kids to try things on their own, make mistakes, and attempt to solve problems by themselves. At first, development skills are inconsistent, so your child may struggle with doing something today that he/she could do yesterday. Practice is required to sharpen skills. If an adult jumps in too quickly, the message is "You can't handle this on your own -- let me do it for you." Making mistakes, learning from them, solving problems independently, and practicing are great ways to build self-confidence.

Establish daily family routines.
Developing consistent morning, homework (after school), dinner and bedtime routines creates a consistency and harmony within the family. An example of a routine at bedtime for a preschooler and early elementary-aged child might be: bath, pajamas, brush teeth, read a book, and sing two songs. Developing consistent family routines has many benefits:
  • Makes transition times less emotionally charged and more automatic
  • Improves ability to follow routine both at home and school
  • Sets clear expectation of how to be successful
Have family dinners. Eating dinner as a family consistently has been proven to strengthen family relationships and communication (2), better academic performance (3), and better nutrition (4).
Making sure kids have a balanced intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins will improve overall emotional stability and school performance (consult a doctor or nutritionist if your child has specific dietary needs or food allergies). In general, limit processed foods, sodas, food dyes, and higher-sugar snacks.

As parents, teachers, and therapists, we all have a goal to have happy children that have the self-confidence to take risks, try new things, enjoy their successes, and learn from mistakes without being too upset! The above tips have come from an extensive database of research on self-confidence, successes and mistakes I have made as a parent of five children, and many years of working with families who have maintained self-confidence in their children and improved their academic performance.

Happy learning!

Toni M. Schulken
MS, OTR/L

(1) Elizabeth A. Kinnenbrinka; Paul R. Pintrichb, Reading & Writing Quarterly, Volume 19, Issue 2 April 2003, pages 119-137.
(2) Focus Group Report, Nutrition Education Network of Washington. Report by Nancy Lee, Social Marketing Services, Inc., to Sue Butkus, Washington State University Cooperative Extension, July 1996.
(3) Wildavsky, R. "What's behind success in school?" Reader's Digest. October 1994. Pages 49-55.
(4) Cullen, KW and T Baranowski. "Influence o family dinner on food intake of 4th to 6th grade students." Paper presented at The American Dietetic Association's Food and Nutrition Conference, October 2000.
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