Verbal confidence here simply implies the ability of a child to express his or her will and opinion, speak up, ask questions, and make demands. Children are not only to be seen, they must be heard especially in the days of easy access to information.
Here are 5 things we believe you can do to increase the verbal confidence of your children as a proactive parent.
- Encourage your children to ask questions
Verbal confidence gives children incredible advantage. Learning to speak up begins early. We must make it clear to our children that it’s alright to ask questions. A child’s first social interaction is an open line of communication between a parent and the child.
If questions from children are treated as a nuisance or with disdain communication will diminish. When their questions are greeted with enthusiasm and understandable answers, they will be encouraged and they will continue, which is the basis for good verbal skills.
The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.
Thomas Bergers
2. Proactively explain new ideas to your children
Th world is a new and exciting place to children. What adult see as ordinary, children see as an adventure. Explaining new things to children helps them build confidence and gives them a sense of the worlds wonder. At every opportunity explain the beauty and the wonders of their environment to them. The natural phenomenon such as the sun, the seasons, plants, animal among others, and the man made phenomenon such as how a car moves,how water gets into a bath tub among others.
When children understand how things work around them and the rule of the world, the see how they fit in and begins to participate. The more they get involved, the more they build their verbal skills
3. Have active dinner together as a family
The dinning table remains one of the best forum for verbal education and communication. Children can be actively engaged during dinning by asking them what they did during the day. Most importantly they should be given time to talk , and one must be ready to listen to what what say. As they grow, politics, current events, and social issues will become endless sources for lively table conversation and debate. When they offer an opinion, its important to ask them why they think that way, thus encouraging them to understand that good opinion must be well reasoned.
4. Encourage participation in the Performing Arts and Sports.
The reality is that nit every child has the talent ti be a great singer or actor but there are many opportunities for children to participate. What is key is that the child gets the experience of appearing before other people.
Children must not be denied of character building and confidence building experiences in speaking, dancing ,public speaking, playing an instrument and athletic performance.
5. Improve your verbal confidence as parent
parenting is not about telling our children, its much more about showing them. Children are easily encouraged when they see the character trait we are pushing them to acquire in our lives as their parent.
Do feel free to share your comments, suggestions and objections in the comment session below.
