The teenage phase is a tough one to crack. Right from the start, teenagers are learning everything at a dizzying pace and along with all the new things they learn, they also acquire the confidence to use them.
As parents, we want to ensure that our teens feel confident about who they are. We try to encourage them and support them so that it is enough to build a strong self-esteem. The reality is that teenage years are a full-on roller coaster ride without prior safety instructions.
Teens search for their spot in the world, trying to figure out their purpose in life while challenging beliefs about themselves they’ve held onto for years.
Thankfully, this doesn’t end your influence! Here are 5 strategies to boost your Teen’s Confidence -
1) Praising Efforts instead of the Outcome -
Ralph Waldo Emerson rightly said - It's not the Destination, It's the journey. Praising your child for studying hard instead of the grade they got reinforces the importance of trying hard and putting in the effort. It also helps normalize not succeeding all the time.
2) Talking about Assertiveness-
Discussing nuances such as the tone of one’s voice or one’s stance can make or break a conversation. Body language and non-verbal cues are imperative and can send across a message of their own. Being assertive exuberates a level of confidence that doesn’t need words as support.
3) Balancing Freedom and Guidance -
Managing your teen’s life choices only reinforces that they cannot be trusted to make their own decisions. Provide them with lots of opportunities to practice the skills you’ve taught so that they experience natural consequences and learn from their mistakes. This will in turn lead to them making healthy choices.
4) Diversification in Activities and Interests -
Involving your teens in a variety of activities, sports, educational activities and volunteering opportunities leads to them having a higher sense of self-esteem in the longer run. This also helps avoid their thoughts going haywire and helps keep their rebellious streak at bay.
5) Listening -
If all you do is talk, there will come a time when your teen might get rebellious as they feel unheard. Trying to resist the temptation of turning everything into a teachable moment is where you’ll start seeing progress. Beginning with patience and empathy is the way to go. You may not agree with what they have to say, but lending an ear always helps build a bond.
A teen’s true confidence is reflected in their readiness to grow, their mindset and their perception about themselves. And while some are thriving, some teens take time to get there. Given the right support, your teen can build their self-worth and confidence which hopefully matches their portrayal of themselves on their social media.