This is a collaborative post: The way children view life shapes what they are able to achieve, so for them to be successful it is important that they establish goals and have ambition. In this post we share how you can develop this outlook with tips from a private girls’ school in Hertfordshire on how to raise an optimistic child.
Set a Good Example
Have you heard the saying “it takes a village to raise a child?”. Children are the product of their environment and need good role models surrounding them. By having high ambitions that you work towards and being positive in how you deal with life can impact your child’s outlook. Your nurture, reassurance, and the belief you have in your child can also increase their optimism and encourage them to go for the things they want. Similarly, having poor examples around them and a lot of pessimism can make children think in a similar way.
Setting High Expectations
At the same time, you don’t want to set your child unrealistic expectations as you’re ultimately setting them up for failure which can be damaging for their self-confidence and esteem.
Don’t Say They Can’t
“Can’t” and “no” are two very strong words that can naturally instil pessimism in children. If there’s something your child can’t do because of their ability, use the words “not yet” as opposed to implying they can never.
Establish Goals
Goals are important to set with children as they encourage them to think about the future and give what they do in their day to day, such as going to school, a sense of purpose. They can be as small as what they want to achieve for the day, like completing a difficult piece of work, or mastering a technique or skill. They are an excellent way to stay motivated and can help children to feel optimistic about what awaits them.
Let Them Make Their Own Choices
It’s understandable that as a parent you’re fearful of your child getting hurt, both physically and emotionally, but sometimes they need the freedom to make their own decisions. It allows them to grow, spread their wings and accomplish great things. Of course, this should be within reason and according to where they are in their development.
Setbacks Are Temporary
Things don’t always pan out the way we want them to, and it’s a good lesson to explore with children as it can be a hindrance to their motivation and what they want to achieve. However, they are temporary and what’s important is that they learn to get back up. This is known as resilience and again giving your child the chance to experience difficult challenges can help them with developing mental strength.
Avoid Comparing
The last piece of advice is to avoid comparison. Children develop at their own pace and while you have no ill intention, comparing children in an attempt to motivate them can be damaging for their confidence. It also takes away from the joy they experience as it turns everything into a competition.