As a parent, you will always want the best for your children. Fortunately, there are plenty of steps that you can take to help make this possible, ensuring that they grow to become the best version of themselves. 

From helping them to strengthen their strategic thinking abilities to discovering hobbies they generally love, read on to find out how you can help your children grow in both skill and confidence! 

Praise your child. While this may seem fairly obvious, one of the easiest ways to help your child grow in confidence is to offer consistent, genuine praise. Not only will this make them feel better about themselves, but studies have found that this kind of positive reinforcement can also improve their resilience or willingness to try something new, as it “sends the message that effort and actions are the sources of success, leading children to believe they can improve their performance through hard work.” 

Teach them to be patient. Teaching your children to be patient can help to develop a range of useful skills, such as empathy and resilience. Not only that, but patience can also help to regulate negative emotions, such as frustration and anger, which means that they are less likely to act or misbehave. Fortunately, there are many different ways in which you can teach your children to be patient. For example, you could start small by saying that they can watch TV in five minutes, as opposed to turning it on right away. This shows them that waiting and being patient have their rewards! 

Help them discover hobbies they enjoy. Hobbies are important at any stage in life, but particularly so during childhood. This is because they help children to develop a host of skills that will not necessarily be covered in the classroom or at nursery. For example, football classes for 3 year olds can not only help improve their mobility and agility, but will also show them the power of working as part of a team for the first time. This, in turn, can help strengthen their social skills and ability to make friends. 

Let them make mistakes. Many children are afraid to make mistakes due to a fear of letting their parents down. This is a mindset that you must actively work to dispel by letting them know that mistakes are just a part of life. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by admitting to your own mistakes and shortcomings. However, instead of framing them as something entirely negative, instead say what you learned because of this mistake. This way, your children will begin to view mistakes as a learning opportunity and not the end of the world. 

You should also make it clear that if they have made a mistake, this is something that you can help them with. This way, they are much more likely to open up to you should they need help. 

Encourage them to talk openly about their emotions. Encouraging your child to talk openly and honestly about how they are feeling will also help them to grow into the best version of themself. This is because it will sharpen their emotional intelligence, while also helping them to understand “big” feelings or emotions that they may be experiencing for the first time.

Again, one of the easiest ways in which you can encourage this behavior from your children is to lead by example. For example, you could spend a little time each evening talking about your day and how certain things made you feel (good and bad). You can then ask your child to do the same. If they express a negative emotion, try to help them understand why they feel that way, and put together a plan they can follow to help them feel better moving forward. 

On a similar note, you should help your child find as many ways as possible to express themselves. For example, some children find it easier to express themselves through crafts, such as painting and drawing over their words, especially in their younger years. Older children may find keeping a diary or journal to be similarly beneficial.

Help them develop their strategic thinking skills. Strategic thinkers are able to rise above challenges, whether that’s in school or the workplace. For this reason, finding effective ways for kids to develop strategic thinking skills is another great way to shape the adult they’ll become for the better. This can be achieved through: 

• Playing games that encourage them to think strategically, such as Chess, Risk and Checkers.
• Solving puzzles, such as word searches or Sudoku, together as a family.
• Encouraging them to ask questions when they do not understand something.
• Prompting them to think deeply about the things they are learning about by asking questions. 

Let them be children. Letting children simply be children is another great way to help your child become the best (and the happiest) version of themselves. While extracurricular activities are beneficial, they should not take up the bulk of your children’s time, especially in their younger years. Instead, you should ensure that they spend most of their time playing, which is more crucial for healthy child development than you may initially realise. For example, through playing make-believe, they “learn to navigate challenges and understand cause-and-effect relationships.” 

Encourage them to learn an instrument. Learning to play an instrument is another great way to help your child develop a whole host of skills. For example, it can improve everything from their cognitive ability to their coordination skills, whether they are learning to play the guitar or the drums. Ideally, you should let them choose which instrument they’d like to play. This ensures that they are as enthusiastic as possible about the idea of attending music classes, as opposed to feeling as though this is something they are forced to do. 

You should also make sure that you offer them support when practicing, even if they don’t sound all that great to begin with. After all, learning to play an instrument takes time, and while they may have a natural skill, it could be a little while before they are able to play all that well. 

Teach your child to be responsible. Teaching your children to be responsible is also key in helping them to become the best versions of themselves moving forward. Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can ensure that you are raising responsible children. For example, you could start by assigning them weekly, age-appropriate chores in order to get their pocket money or receive a reward. When they do not hold up their end of the bargain, do not give them the reward. This shows them that their actions have clear consequences and will encourage them to be more responsible moving forward. 

Welcoming a pet into your home is another great way to teach your children to be more responsible, though it is not a decision you should make lightly. You should make sure that both your children and you are ready to take on this challenge and provide the pet with the love and care that it deserves. Remember, it is a living being with complex needs, not a learning opportunity. 

Spend quality time with them. Spending quality time with your children will also play a key role in their development and overall self-esteem. This is because spending time together shows your children that they are valued and loved, while also strengthening the bond you share. As such, you should make sure that you always set aside some time in your day for your children. When you’re working, this can be as simple as watching an episode of their favoirte TV show together, or sitting down at the dining room table to eat tea together as opposed to eating separately. 

At the weekend, you have a few more options to choose from, whether you’re spending a sunny day at the park or visiting a local museum. 

Final thoughts. As a parent, you will always want what is best for your child. Fortunately, there are plenty of steps that you can take now to put them in the best possible position as they grow before your eyes. For example, you can help your children to become the best possible versions of themselves by: 

• Praising them, especially when they are putting themselves outside of their comfort zone. 
• Teaching them to be patient so that they can regulate their emotions. 
• Helping them to discover hobbies that they genuinely enjoy 
• Letting them make mistakes so that they can learn from them
• Encouraging them to talk openly about their emotions 
• Helping them to develop their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills 
• Letting them be children so that they can learn through play
• Encouraging them to learn an instrument 
• Teaching them to be responsible and to hold themselves accountable 
• Spending as much quality time with them as possible

Following the guidance outlined above will ensure that your child has the best start in life, especially if you continue to shower them with love throughout. 

This is a collaborative post.