We watch our children excel day after day as they learn and master each new skill. Proud and excited they rush out to tell us about their new accomplishment. After months of practice, it is now time for the big game, the dance competition, the gymnastics competition, or just showing their new friend their aerial on the playground, and then they… freeze. The same thing happens to us, and we are adults, so what can we do to instill confidence in our children?
What works for us can work for them too. Here are 5 confidence boosting strategies for your young athlete. Maybe you incorporate these techniques into your life already. Practice these strategies with your children for positive bonding time with the added benefit of increasing the confidence of your entire family.
1. VISUALIZATION.
Imagine yourself landing that aerial. Ask your child to sit quietly and close her eyes. In her mind’s eye, tell her to see herself safely landing on her feet after completing her aerial. Ask you child to describe what she sees and how she feels in that moment. Using mental imagery is extremely powerful, and if your child can connect this mental imagery with positive emotions, her confidence increases. Meditation has power in sports. See it, Believe it, and you will Achieve it.
2. POSITIVE SELF-TALK.
Remind your children that words have power, and to be careful how they talk about themselves and others. Show them how they can turn a negative comment into a positive. Create positive mantras to recite before a big game or competition. For example, “I made all of my baskets for over a week. This is no different. Today every ball is going into the basket.” Begin each morning before school reciting their new mantras. For example, “Today is going to be a good day. I’m going to do my best and forget the rest.”
3. LEAVE EXTRA TIME FOR WARM-UP.
Get to the game or competition early. Allow your children adequate time to warm up and get their game face on. This is true for soccer or dance. The children who are not rushed, and have ample time to go over their dance routine and stretch their muscles, visualize their success while repeating their mantras feel more relaxed and confident than their peers. Their adrenaline kicks in, but they are also more confident and self-assured before they hit that field or stage.
4. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN.
As parents, teachers, and coaches, we must be careful what we say to our children. Words are powerful. We are leading by example. Our children want to please us and live up to our expectations. If your expectations are impossible to meet, children typically become discouraged and quickly lose confidence. They need those that love them to believe in them. Always believe in them and encourage them because what they see and hear from us now can affect them their entire lives. The competition and game days are long and tiring physically, mentally, and emotionally for the entire family. Prepare for it, so that you can be positive when your child may falter. It is important that our children see our confidence, so they know what it looks like.
5. BOND TOGETHER AS A FAMILY AND BUILD CONFIDENCE.
As you are building confidence as a family, enjoy family bonding together. Do some things away from the track, soccer field, basketball court or dance studio. For example, tackle challenging activities with your children at Family Entertainment Centers. They can climb the rock wall with you, and watch as you learn this skill for the first time. Both of you can complete the obstacle course after months of working together on this common goal. Show them how important it is to try new things. It’s a journey, and they have many years to perfect their skills.
If you would like to try a Family Entertainment Center with your children and you live in the Cleveland area, check out Adrenaline Monkey coming to Cleveland in the Spring of 2018. Get on the email list, and enter to win a free membership. Learn more about what you can find at a Family Entertainment Center at www.AdrenalineMonkeyFun.com
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