This giveaway is now closed. Empower kids of all ages to strengthen their self-esteem and sense of purpose. One lucky reader will win all of these positive, practical, must-have resources:
To Enter: Leave a comment below telling us how you build confidence in kids. This giveaway is now closed.
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Each comment counts as a separate entry—that’s four chances to win! Entries must be received by midnight, January 27, 2017.
The winner will be contacted via email on or around January 30, 2017, and will need to respond within 72 hours to claim his or her prize or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way affiliated with, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Winner must be a U.S. resident, 18 years of age or older.
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I encourage them to try new things and keep going even when it doesn’t come easy
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I allow them to do things I feel can be done without me and praise them when they complete them or take time to show them for the next time.
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I am a program coordinator for Big Brothers, Big Sisters in which volunteer mentors are matched with children from single parent families. The mentor is matched with one child to build a long term relationship for at least 2 years with regular meetings. The bond formed is a strong one and by having a mentor, the child immediately experiences a self-esteem boost! Mentors give social, emotional and academic support during their time together by reading, sports, music or the arts. As the bond grows, the mentors find the child’s strengths and helps the child to develop those strengths by engaging in activities together. As the relationship deepens, emotional support becomes a big part of things as trust is established and the child shares more and more with the mentor. Mentors often need extra resources to help their mentees and I think books published by Free Spirit press would fit the bill!
I work with school aged children. There are a variety of ways to help kids develop confidence. Most often, I do so by treating them as capable individuals. I provide support, guidance and instruction, as needed. Mistakes are a part of developing confidence. I allow and encourage trial and error to help students learn also. Sometimes, NOT being successful at something the first time helps one develop confidence as well.
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Working in a middle school student self confidence shows itself in many ways some are over confident and others are under confident. No matter the situation all students need help with their confidence. The ones who are showing that they are over confident are often the ones who need help the most with their confidence. I work with them one on one and we go through a series of questions on where they feel the most and least confidence and then we work on the areas of weakness based on their areas of strengths using their confidence in other areas and showing how they can use their strengths in one area to strengthen their courage in other areas.
Reminding them of what things they are good at, no matter how small it may be. Pointing out positive behavior with, “Thank you for writing your name so neatly on your paper.”, etc.
I head up our parent/teacher resources collection, and I have filled it with resources geared at teaching social/emotional skills, confidence, perseverance and emotional regulation. There’s lots of Free Spirit Publishing books in there too! I head up our monthly art program, called Creativity Lab, and offer open-ended art projects where I encourage kids to bring their own ideas and skills to the project, letting them have complete artistic freedom to create whatever they want to create. If they compare their work with another’s in a negative way, I try to redirect their thinking by pointing out positive things about it, and by showing them how much I appreciate what they did, and that the differences make it even more special and unique.
My toddler likes to play with water, so I ask her to help me rinse the dishes. She also likes to name out colors so she helps with putting clothes in the dryer. I believe giving her these opportunities allow her to feel that her skills and help are valued.
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In my classroom I want all students to feel successful. I try to help my students develop a growth mindset so they feel confident trying new strategies without worrying about making mistakes. And if they do make mistakes, we see them as learning opportunities rather than failures.
I work with special needs children and focus on building confidence by focusing on their strengths and setting goals that they can accomplish.
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Listening, giving attention to their feelings and validating them. Viewing children as people, and giving them opportunities to grow their independence and autonomy.
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I am the Early Childhood Life Skills Coordinator for the Children’s Coalition, and I work with the teachers through the Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices program. This curriculum teachers healthy social-emotional developmental skills and strengthens the child’s resiliency and coping skills. We teach children to how to make decisions, be flexible thinkers and etc., which in turn builds confidence.
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I usually build confidence in my two kids by allowing them to experiment and try things by themselves. Everytime I see they are going to do something, I tell them that they are capable to do anything their hearth desires. I also praise them when they have done something right, yet when they don’t I explain to them why was not right and how can they do it better.
I build confidence in children by letting them master their own strengths and acknowledging their weakness so that we can build on them and help them realize that not all people are perfect. Everyone is an individual with their own strengths and weaknesses. It is how they use them to help themselves. I encourage them to stand apart from peers and that it is “okey” to be oneself. They can lead and they can follow, they have choices to do so.
I teach preschool and it’s so important that they develop a sense of who they are.
I work in a library and do story time every week with very young children. The parents who bring their children to the library for story time do a great job of helping their children feel secure and happy with who they are. What I do to support this hard work on their part is to SEE the children. As I read, I’m interacting with the children. We’re having a conversation. I see and hear each child as they do their own special thing during the songs, ask a question during the stories or interject their feelings about what’s happening either in the story or in some totally unconnected way. All children want is to be seen and heard for who they are–to be appreciated. You can tell it makes a world of difference and only takes a moment. During craft time, I make sure and say something true and unique and encouraging to each child about their creations, as well. I believe you need to mean what you’re saying–kids can tell if you’re faking. They’re extremely observant and intelligent and so willing to soak in what you’re saying. So as adults, be very mindful of the words that are being said to them. They take them to heart.
In order to build student confidence, one must listen to them, validate their struggles, create a safe environment for questions and mistakes, help them identify the areas they need to develop, and praise them on individual and team growth.
Ask them questions to which their answers highlight how they have grown, and have them recognize how great that is. Share stories similar to theirs highlighting the same important topic so they can see how important it is that they have that within them. Encouraging them to see as many sides to situations as they can and to make what they determine is the right choice. Have them recognize brave things that they have done and share how they got through it. In yoga classes I incorporate affirmations that tie into our stories and to their own and they are encouraged to repeat it to themselves throughout the week.
To build confidence in my students I teach them about our brain and how we all are able to grow our intelligence. I use affirmations to encourage a strong growth mindset. I teach students that through a positive attitude and effort you can improve in any area you want.
I build confidence in my students by praising them for their achievements and encouraging them to reach their maximum potential. All activities are remarkable achievements that students need to be commended on. When students believe that they can go far, it opens the door of possibilities. High self-esteem is extremely vital to help students with hands-on activities to develop their motor skills and other important life skills.
I build there confidence by giving them the opportunity to speak in front of class daily, I promote independence all day. Words of encouragement lots of praise and most important laughing with them.
I build confidence in kids by listening to them and helping them learn better ways to deal with their problems p
Plain and simple… I notice the good and keep it positive…always. 🙂
At Head Start we provide opportunities for children to try new skills. When they have attempted and succeeded then we up the skill a notch to encourage the children to take the challenge and try the old skill but with a twist. Also we use two curriculums that provide the words they need to use to problem solve and build on their self-esteem. We feel that when children are ready to step outside of their comfort zone then they build on their confidence to try new learning opportunities. It is helping the children take the first step.
As a school we encourage children everyday to do all types of things they never thought they could.
I’m a parenting coach so I work on self-confidence for both parents and their children. I teach many strategies (lots of positive praise) to parents help build confidence in their children. And by doing so, I hope they are learning how to build confidence in their future children! Many parents have never been told they are great themselves. They may not have had good parental role models. So I start with them (and their kiddos too) to model how to build confidence and show how they can universalize this to their children too!
I like to meet with the families and make an “about me” placemat, especially around Thanksgiving. Using a large piece of construction paper, write the child’s name on it in big letters. I then ask each person to write traits or things that they value or are thankful for about the child. The child will also write words about themselves on the paper. This should be done only if you think the family can be positive about the child. I also have a list of traits ready in my brain if they need help jump starting the process.
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I work with pre-school aged children. Everyday I help them to build their confidence. One thing I like to do is during circle time have the children say something nice about someone else in the circle. I also am helping them become independent and help to problem solve.
i teach pre-service teachers and remind them that, despite the emphasis on output and test scores, in the end they are teaching children, small human beings who must be comfortable in their lives now and strong as they progress to adulthood. i share Free Spirit resources like these with my novice teachers.
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I have a free range library. How do you build confidence in choosing a book? You let them choose their own book. Autonomy builds from there.
I learn names as quickly as I can, so I can greet my library visitors with their name and a smile
I work with preschool-aged children. In order to help boost their confidence, I have to make them feel good about themselves. At this age, that entails giving them valuable praise, letting them know that they are loved and respected, and teaching them how to stand up for themselves. One of the best ways to do this is with books. So anything you can give us would be greatly appreciated.
In Ontario Early Years Centers we see children as curious and competent and we have conversations with parents, how following a child’s interest and letting them make mistakes is important. We equip parents with tools that they can foster acceptance and understanding and acknowledging their child’s successes and achievements. We involve other adults in child’s life; grandparents, caregivers, siblings, aunts, etc and as professionals we model for everyone with our own examples of either successes or mistakes talking about resiliency and being OK with who we are and accepting others for who they are.
I listen to them and value what they say.
Encourage the way they problem solve!
I teach kids yoga to children and families ages 6 months to 10 years old. We do many confidence building poses songs and games to help children thrive in building their confidence.
“As a site for after school programming for elementary children with disabilities and struggling with self-esteem and challenging behaviors, these books would be wonderful resources for our children. They are age-appropriate and offer interesting reading; great possibilities for scaffolded follow-up activities. We use Peaceworks as a curriculum and this would very much enhance our students growth in social emotional and self-worth development.”
I greet children individually every day with a smile and a genuine “I am glad you are here today” statement.
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I had already been a follower of you on face book and twitter and now on pinterest~ I support the children I work with by supporting the whole child, including the family. This is best done by developing trust and rapport with them, and then building on their strengths.
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Sixth graders are old enough to be in charge of routines around the classroom and to design, plan, create, complete projects. As they take on these responsibilities, they become more confident with themselves and their peers.
In our Head Start preschool classrooms, we help build confidence in children by coaching them in settling conflicts with their peers. We support them by giving them the words to use and helping them to come up with solutions to the problems they are facing.
I always praise my children and let them know they are special. Let them know when they are doing something great! We have character traits we learn each month and we use positive reinforcement!
Working with children, parents, & teachers in an early childhood development center and with our after school program students, doing fun activities that increase self-regulation and strengthen positive social interactions with others is how I work to increase confidence with children & adults.
I build confidence by sharing my mistakes. Children who see that everyone messes up are less concerned about making mistakes and have more confidence to try new things.
I encourage confidence by offering students trust and giving them opportunities to complete jobs for me in the library. I also try to encourage them to do things on their own as much as possible, allowing them to prove to themselves that they can do those things.
Children are like little sponges….. they soak up everything they experience so spend time
filling them with positive and encouraging words and experiences 🙂
Working with children ages 0-5 years of age is amazing. These are critical years for building their foundation for building self worth and learning both socially and academically . I would utilize these books with children in the preschool classrooms to affirm with them that all children are gifted and have something to bring to the world. They should all be affirmed for who they are – each different but equally important.
I would also utilize some of the books with their parents for older siblings at home as the parents resources are limited.
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I tell them that GOD made us all special in HIS own way and gave all the confidence we need to get by in this world and no man can tear them down unless they let them.
Praise children for their efforts, celebrate their accomplishments and build their courage and self-esteem!
I encourage independence by praising all attempts of self-sufficiency!
We have social emotional lessons every week with whole grades. We are trying to bring kindness and caring back to k-3
Building confidence begins at birth through our serve and return relationships with children that builds trust and continues as we allow them to explore their environment while remaining a safe base for them to return to as needed.
I build confidence in children by noticing the effort that they put into everything that they try to do. My early childhood program as just implemented the Conscious Discipline Method and we are already noticing progress with our children.
I am currently doing a confidence-building unit in our 3rd grade classroom. We have worked on accepting mistakes and realizing everyone makes mistakes, and that we grow from these if we approach them with the right attitude. We are also embarking on some lessons regarding Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset. Very excited to teach this to our students!
I try to help build confidence by noticing positive behaviors and telling students verbally how much I appreciate them.
I love using Strength Cards for Kids (link below) to help kids identify their own strengths.
http://innovativeresources.org/resources/card-sets/strengths-cards-for-kids/
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To give students support with building a positive self-esteem, there is an elective offered to 7th and 8th graders. The 7th grade elective is LAFS (Life’s Instructions for Students), and the 8th grade elective is LEADERS. I feel your resources would be a wonderful boost to the curriculum, and ti be able to expose students to life lessons is the jump start needed to have meaningful experiences in middle school.
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Hello, The books share some of the most difficult challenges and stresses children can face. I teach early childhood educators who have the responsibility and privilege to help children understand their feelings and develop resiliency combined with strategies to respond to difficult situations. I would be able to use these books in three different ways: with children directly, with educators working with children, and with parents. Providing wonderful literature for children can bring a love of learning and reading and offer them refuge when they need the support and comfort. Stortelling is such an important way to communicate and I would be sharing these stories and encouraging the exploration of free spirit publishing. Thank you for considering my entry
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As a mom of two boys I work on building their confidence every day by praising them for every good deed they do and each accomplishment. I help them learn that the things they struggle with are obstacles to overcome not permanent roadblocks. These books would be great to read through with my 8 year old! He recently switched schools and is working on making friends still.
I do not do anything for a child that they can do for themselves. If I feel that they are struggling and need help I will always ask permission to help.
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I build confidence in kids by highlighting their efforts, not just their results.
Our students may need to try something more than once to get it, and that is every bit as valuable as getting it right the first time.
I listen to them and I am present.
I build their confidence by being positive with them. I try to have daily positive interactions with them and build them up instead of knocking them down.
Being an Elementary School counselor I would use these books in my Character Education lessons that I do monthly with the students. It’s important to build self-esteem and confidence in children at an early age. I would love to add these books to my collection!
High five with a super hug and tell them they are awesome!🙌🏻
I would use these books with my elementary students who have ADHD and/or LD to help them learn different ways to boost their confidence socially and academically in school and with peers. I have many students with low self-confidence that I work with at my 2 Elementary buildings and these resources would be utilized with them as soon as received. Support staff are not receiving any funds to buy much needed therapeutic tools such as these to help our students.