Unfortunate life situations like divorce or death can shatter a child’s world. His confidence in everything from his parents to himself can be lost. Talking to your child about the recent changes can go a long way toward making him feel secure. Also try to maintain routines and traditions as much as possible to provide a sense of security. Therapy may be also be an option to help a child sort through his feelings in a neutral environment.

These are some weighty issues, but sometimes a lack of confidence comes from a much simpler issue – not doing well in school. If your child is having trouble with her schoolwork, be ready to provide the necessary support. Set aside a time for homework and offer your help in explaining problems, but don’t go so far as to do your child’s homework. Make sure your child is responsible for things like writing down homework assignments and remembering to return her homework to school. Ask your child’s teacher if there is any extra work available for skills practice. If a dedicated effort to studying and extra help don’t work, look into physical factors such as a need for glasses or a reading difficulty. With improved success, confidence will grow.

No matter what the cause of a child’s lack of confidence, you can help the most by staying alert. Look for sudden changes in your child’s behavior or a sudden lack of interest in activities they previously enjoyed. Early intervention can help get to the root of the problem and allow you to work towards a solution quickly before permanent damage is done. This isn’t to say that you will shelter your child from all of the troubles of life, but by being aware and supportive, you can help him navigate problems easily to get back on track.

A child’s confidence creates the foundation for later success in life. Do everything you can to make sure your child has the proper foundation.

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