All of us, especially our children thrive when there is a large dose of positivity in our lives. Parents need to teach children to be positive in order to enable them to gain confidence and meet with success in all of life's endeavors.Positive children are generally confident and successful children.

But what can parents do to raise the level of confidence in their children?

Good mental and physical health are the primary tools for raising confident children. Most of us parents are aware that children should have plenty of good food, sleep, exercise and fresh air to grow healthy and strong. However, there are many of us who may not be aware of other important factors that contribute to our children's good mental health and well-being.

Here are some tips for raising confident children who enjoy mental as well as physical health:-

* LOVE:

Every child needs to feel loved by his parents. Love is the magic potion, an elixir to life. It conveys to the child that his parents want and enjoy his company; they care for him and are concerned for his well-being. The child is thus confidently aware that he matters to them the most.

* Acceptance:

We all crave for acceptance from those we love. A child too needs to believe that his parents like him at all times and give him their unconditional love.He wants to be accepted by his parents, even though they may not always approve of his behavior.

* Security:

Every child secretly harbors a need to be assured that his home is a good safe place to live in. He feels secure in the knowledge that his parents will be there on hand whenever he needs them.At each new juncture in his life when there is a change of environment like attending his first school, he needs added assurance that his place will always be with his parents.

* Protection:

All children like to feel protected by their parents. Every child needs to feel that his parents will protect him from harm and keep him safe. Hence parents need to help their child while encountering strangers or unknown situations.

* Independence:

Every child would need to know that his parents have trust in him and his ability to do things for himself and by himself. He also wants to know that his parents will encourage him to grow and develop in his own way.

* Morals:

Every child has the need although he may not directly say so, to be instilled with a set of moral standards. This strong beliefs in human values like kindness, courage, honesty and fair play ingrained in childhood, will stand the test of time as he grows to face adulthood.

* Guidance:

Children need to have warm guidance from someone whom they respect , love and look up to. However, they ultimately also need firm guidance in learning how to behave towards others, especially elders. Perhaps, the best lesson in this would be to teach by example.

* Control:

Parents would be wise to set limits for their child's behavior. Children need to know what they are permitted to do; they need to understand that it's O.K. to feel jealous or angry. However, children should be made aware that under no circumstances, they will be allowed to hurt themselves or others.

Children whose all the above basic needs are satisfied, will ultimately have a greater chance of being confident as mentally healthy children and adults. They will grow to be good mates, good workers, good neighbors, good parents and good citizens.

Learn more about this author, Gool Bugwadia-Parenting Styles Steward.
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