Words shape a child’s self-image. Hurtful words, no matter how unintended, can scar children for a lifetime just as uplifting words can help them develop the self-confidence they will need to succeed throughout their lives. How you talk to and treat your child will have a lasting impact on them. Constantly pointing out the negative about a child – how he doesn’t clean up his room after playing, how she doesn’t keep up with you when you’re walking fast, or how he doesn’t get perfect scores in school – will result in your child having a negative self-image.

1. How to Build Self-Confidence That Will Last a Lifetime
Words shape a child’s self-image. Hurtful words, no matter
how unintended, can scar children for a lifetime just as
uplifting words can help them develop the self-confidence
they will need to succeed throughout their lives.
How you talk to and treat your child will have a lasting impact
on them. Constantly pointing out the negative about a child –
how he doesn’t clean up his room after playing, how she doesn’t
keep up with you when you’re walking fast, or how he doesn’t
get perfect scores in school – will result in your child having a
negative self-image.
Every parent has to reprimand or to criticize their children to a point. It’s natural to the
learning and to the growing process. However, be sure that you offer even more
praise than criticism. Praise lifts up children where criticism, even though it may not be
intended to do so, can often break them down, especially if that’s all a child hears.
Seven Simple Ways to Instill Self-Confidence
Helping your child build self-confidence now is essential to how he or she copes with
life in the future, and it’s something that’s fairly easy and won’t disrupt your lives. In
fact, it will enhance both your life and your child’s life.
Say “I love you”
Tell your children you love them often and, just as important, show your children how
much you love them through your actions. Kiss them after you tuck them in at night.
Hug them before they go to school. Be their biggest cheerleader and the safe place
they can turn when they need to talk or to vent.
http://meta4kids.com.au 1
Copyright © 2007 Stuart Walter

2. Be positive when talking about your child
Always be positive when talking about your child, when he is within earshot, to family
and friends. Save the complaining for a time when your child is not around. Talking
negatively about children, especially to others, when they can hear can result in
embarrassment and shame and can damage their self-confidence.
Give your child responsibility
Everyone wants to feel needed. Children are no different. Give your child
responsibility in the house by assigning them chores that are age-appropriate. For
example, you may have your five-year-old clean off the dinner table and load the
dishes into the dishwasher. Or, your three-year-old may be charged with making sure
all the dirty clothes are in the laundry basket.
In addition to teaching your child responsibility, chores help them develop self-confidence
in knowing they can do a job and do it well.
Do not minimize or dismiss a child’s feelings
A meme is making its rounds on social media that touches perfectly on this concept: If
you want your kids to tell you the important things when they are older, listen to them
when they are younger because when they are little everything is important.
Minimizing or dismissing a child’s feelings can make him feel as though his feelings
aren’t important. Show interest in what your child has to say. What he’s told you may
not seem like a big deal to you but if it wasn’t a big deal to him he wouldn’t have
brought it up.
Separate the action from your child
Children don’t always listen nor do they always do what they’re supposed to do. That
doesn’t make them bad. It makes them normal. However, if you constantly tell a child
that she’s done something bad, she’s going to start believing that she is a bad kid.
http://meta4kids.com.au 2
Copyright © 2007 Stuart Walter

3. Be sure to separate the action from your child.
Maybe your child got mad and kicked you or
another family member. Instead of yelling at her
for being bad, say something like, “You’re a
good kid and hitting is not nice or acceptable.”
In other words, you’re affirming that she’s a
good kid, and that she’s done a not-so-good
thing.
Create attainable goals
Kids who feel a sense of accomplishment build self-esteem. Encourage your child’s
independence by creating attainable goals. You might encourage her to dress
herself, make her own bed, or put her night clothes on before bed. Praise her for a job
well done when she completes the task. She will feel a sense of accomplishment and
her self-confidence will grow stronger by knowing she can do what you have asked.
Nurture your child’s sense of self-trust
Children often go straight to their parents when faced with a problem. Parents
naturally want to help their children. Let your child learn how to deal with problems on
her own. Listen to what she has to say and encourage her to come up with a solution.
A child who trusts her own judgment will grow into a self-confident adult.
Self-confidence and self-esteem aren’t concrete. Despite everything you do to
nurture your child’s sense of self-confidence, he will have days when he doesn’t feel
it. We all face cracks in our self-esteem and our self-confidence. Help your child
overcome those waves of emotion by reading The Ocean together, a story that helps
calm children when they are emotionally unsettled.
Just the surface of the ocean changes with the conditions around it… so to children
are changed by conditions and our bodies are 80+% water.
http://meta4kids.com.au 3
Copyright © 2007 Stuart Walter

4. About the Author
My name is Stuart Walter and I am a professionally trained
Clinical Hypnotherapist, I specialise in elite sports and business
performance. I work with people to maximise performance,
attitude and results. My clients include State, National,
Commonwealth and World Champions, within the walls of my
professional offices in Brisbane, Australia, many lives have been
transformed forever.
However, it is as a father that I continue to experience the greatest pleasure in seeing
the enormous growth and development that occurs when children are provided with
the opportunity to release the endless potential and abilities that lie within. Having
been around Hypnotherapy and natural therapies all of my life (both my parents
were practitioners), I know the abilities we all have within us.
As a parent myself, I marvel each and every day at the growth and development of
my own son as he learns, lives, explores and evolves. He makes me laugh, he makes
me cry and leaves me speechless with his antics, knowledge and ability to live and
learn.
Creating champions is in my blood and I am pleased to be able to share my passion
and abilities with you in creating the path in life for your own little champions.
Stuart Walter
Stuart Walter
Creator of Meta4Kids.
Download Here
A STORY TO SUPPORT SELF CONFIDENCE
AND SELF ESTEEM
"THE OCEAN"
Like your kids, the ocean is forever changing... different conditions, different seasons
and different days. Some days it is calm and peaceful, other days it is unsettled. Our
bodies are about 75% water. If, in times of change, your kids actions seem to be
emotionally unsettled, this story will calm them.
http://meta4kids.com.au 4
Copyright © 2007 Stuart Walter