5 Simple Games to Build Your Child's Self-Confidence

How to Empower Young Minds: Simple Activities To Promote Your Child's Growth Mindset

Raising confident children in today's world can seem like a daunting task. As parents, we often ponder how to instill a robust sense of self-belief in our little ones. But fear not!

There is a way to build up our loved one's self-confidence! And it's pretty simple.

I struggled as a parent trying to keep my son and daughter believing in themselves. It seems any bit of correction could lead them to hide under their bed or quit when things get hard. This led me to become frustrated with them for not seeing the full picture. This further took to my development of reminding myself that they are 4 and 5 and not adults in their mid-30s. And so, unfortunately, my methods didn't always provide the best results. And I'm ashamed to say it would bother me to the point that I would punish them for negative self-talk. NOT the right parenting style.

But, after self-reflection, reading, and listening to well over hundreds of hours of mindset videos, self-development books, expert videos, and talking to other parents, there were a few simple things that did make an immediate improvement in their self-image and belief.

Here is one way that worked well for my kids and my mental energy as a parent. A simple mindset shift that not only increased my kid's self-confidence but mine as well. Here are 5 simple games and activities to walk with your kids through that can significantly boost their confidence. These strategies, rooted in cultivating a growth mindset, are effective and enjoyable for you and your child.

It all started here,

Understanding the Growth Mindset: The Key to Emotional Resilience

This was my awakening to rewiring myself and opening up this ideology to my children.

Picture this: It's a sunny Saturday afternoon and your child is trying to build a tower with their blocks. Each time they add a new block, the tower wobbles and tumbles down. But here's the twist – instead of getting frustrated, throwing the blocks under the couch, and demanding help, clearly upset, they don't do that. Instead, their eyes sparkle with determination. Your child has heard you say, "Wow, you're trying so hard, and look how close you're getting!"

This is the power of effort praise over ability praise. It’s like author Paul Arden says,

So, every time their tower falls, they learn a bit more about balance and patience. Fast forward a few years, and this same spirit sees your son or daughter tackling school projects and sports with a ‘never give up’ attitude. They know that effort is the golden key to improvement, just like how they eventually built the tallest tower by themselves.

This mindset not only develops persistence but also hones problem-solving skills. Kids start seeing challenges as exciting puzzles, not scary monsters under the bed. And when life inevitably throws a curveball, they catch it with resilience, knowing that setbacks are just stepping stones, not stop signs.

Cultivating a Growth Mindset: The Adventure of Learning and Growing

"Let's turn every day into a treasure hunt," you might say to your four-year-old, sparking their curiosity and excitement. Here, we're not just teaching concepts; we're embarking on an adventure of growth and discovery.

5 Simple Games to Build Your Child's Self-Confidence

1. The 'I Can Do It' Game

2. The Story of the Little Train

3. The Puzzle Challenge

4. The Grow-Every-Day Chart

5. Role-Play: The Learning Superhero

No learning can take place without application. It's time to start this learning and mindset shift with your child. Here are 5 simple games that can be played anytime with your young child.

The 'I Can Do It' Game:

Activity: Introduce a new, simple skill, like drawing a basic shape or tying a knot. This doesn't have to be fancy, just a new skill that your child hasn't mastered yet. Let them watch you a few times and then let them try on their own. As they begin to give it a go ask them the following,

Question: “How do you feel when you learn something new?”

This game is about celebrating effort. Each time your child tries, regardless of the outcome, cheer and say, "You tried, and that's fantastic!" It’s about embedding the idea that trying is winning. Your goal is to motivate and encourage the act of trying, not the outcome. That's where we want our young ones to focus, the feeling of excitement in trying something new.

The Story of the Little Train:

Activity: Read a story about perseverance, like 'The Little Engine That Could'. The one where the little engine used all his might to climb the mountain when he didn't think he could. He was determined to not give up no matter what the other engines said about him. When your finished ask your child,

Question: “What did the little train do when the hill was steep?”

Discuss how the train kept trying, reinforcing the message that effort leads to success. Sometimes, it is that repetition and constant focus on doing what is needed that gets us to our end goal. It's not always an immediate reward but through focused work and effort, you can achieve anything. Just like Jim Rohn said,

The Puzzle Challenge:

Activity: Work on a slightly challenging puzzle together. You know the ones that are all white or a giant field of grass. Just kidding, pick one with a few more pieces than your child is used to completing or with new shapes and edges. It just needs to be slightly more advanced than your child is used to finishing. Then ask

Question: “What can we do if we can’t find the right piece immediately?”

This question is all about giving our children the chance to begin patience. Encourage patience and exploring different possibilities is a part of life, highlighting that finding the solution is part of the fun. This vital skill will allow them to try different pieces to find the ones that fit together. This creates resiliency and they can try different ways/ pieces to complete the overall objective.

The Grow-Every-Day Chart:

Activity: Create a chart where your child can add a sticker for every new thing they try or learn. This can be putting on clothes, helping with potty training, tying shoes, or even learning to use scissors. Pick simple skills or ask your child on the way home from school each day,

Question: “What new thing did you learn today?”

This visual representation of growth reinforces the idea that learning and growing are daily adventures. Every day I ask this of my children, even if it's a lazy Saturday around the house. There is always something new and different from the previous. Could it be that your child learned a new way to build the marble run, not to put the remote in the freezer, or even water can fill up the tub to almost overflowing levels if you cover the drain?

Role-Play: The Learning Superhero:

Activity: Pretend play where your child is a superhero whose power is learning new things. My son loves becoming a superhero and this is a power that can be make-believe or teach new skills.

Question: “What new power did our Learning Superhero gain today?”

This not only makes learning fun but also frames challenges as exciting opportunities to gain new 'powers'. This fosters creativity as everything can be looked at as brand-new. You can also ask questions about how they learned that new skill or idea. As a parent, you can then see their world through your child's eyes a brief and creative moment to picture the world as they see it.

In essence, fostering a growth mindset in a child is about transforming the learning process into an exciting journey. It's about showing them that each effort is a step forward, each mistake a lesson, and each day a chance to grow a little more. As they embark on this adventure, they learn that, in the words of Jim Rohn,

With each question and activity, we're gently steering these young minds toward a life filled with continuous learning, resilience, and an ever-growing belief in their abilities.

We believe positive affirmations are the foundation for building a growth mindset and feeling confident. Grab your copy today of Happy Kids Win, A Positive Affirmation Book for Kids and receive

Kid-friendly, short positive affirmations designed to:

• Increase Your Child's Self-Confidence

  
  

• Develop a Positive Attitude

  
  

• Build Lasting Self - Worth

We know you want to see your child thrive in every aspect of life. Our growth mindset book 'Happy Kids Win' is designed not just as a reading exercise but a daily confidence-building tool that counters every child's anxiety, doubts, and fears. Watch your child transform from hesitant and unsure to bold and inspired with every page.