being yourself is your SUPERPOWER

In today’s society, it’s easy to want to be like a movie star, a musician, a superhero, so on and so on. It’s great to have role models and aspirations, however, it’s more priceless to be unique and showcase your individuality. Truly loving yourself, being confident, and having a growth mindset can help to form us into individuals that feel unstoppable, have an overall positive mindset, and make us feel like we possess a superpower by just being ourselves.

We are faced with so many things in the media, on TV, and in the movies, that sometimes we think we aren’t good enough. Raising children with all of these outside influences may seem challenging to help them really own and rock their own unique traits, however following some of these tips may help them on their path to having high self-esteem and confidence.

set a good example early
If children always hear or see their parents body shame themselves, say they’re stupid, or can’t do something because of this excuse or that excuse, it is highly likely these mentalities and negative self-talk/habits will influence them to grow up to do the same.

Being a good example by showing children to love themselves and their unique individuality is one of the many ways to build their confidence and make them feel unstoppable.

healthy risks
Part of having a positive self-image and self-esteem in the long term is for parents to take a step back and allow their child to take healthy risks. In an article by Today’s Parent, Victoria Sopik, CEO of Kids & Company, talks about how parents can encourage confidence. “To build confidence in the world, kids have to take chances, make choices and take responsibility for them,” Sopik says. She sees too many parents trying to rescue their kids from failure all the time.”

Children need to be encouraged to solve their own problems. If parents continue to try and rescue them, or solve their problems for them, they are not being set up to be a confident adult in the future.

growth mindset
Encouraging a growth mindset is a great way to raise a confident child ready to take on the world. Grit is not something we are born with, but rather, something that we develop and strengthen over time. When things get hard or something can’t be easily figured out, it’s important to encourage your child to finish it to the end or try again.

As stated in an article by The Mother Company, “If children get stuck thinking they can’t do something, they might start feeling inept, and stop trying. They’re buying into a fixed mindset. We want to encourage our kids to have a growth mindset.” Big Life Journal is a great resource to help parents teach their children about how they can nurture a growth mindset.

The article goes on to state that “kids need to be guided to believe their success is based on their effort rather than their innate talents — which they surely have. They learn that practice leads to mastery.” Having a growth mindset will ultimately improve their self-esteem and confidence, knowing that tasks can be accomplished overall, it may just take time and practice.

Developing grit in our children helps them realize that anything truly is obtainable or reachable with determination and practice – a powerful superpower!

super books to encourage individuality and confidence
What’s My Superpower? by Aviaq Johnston tells the story of a girl trying to find her own unique superpower and realizes that it was right in front of her all along. The Day I Lost My Superpowers by Michaël Escoffier is about a girl who discovers her own extraordinary abilities, and when her powers fail, as they must, she discovers them in her mom. How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers tells a story of a boy who tries almost everything imaginable to catch a star. He’s determined to catch the star and in the end, succeeds in an unexpected way.

coloring fun
Please enjoy this free Tot Tails coloring page to help share this message with your child.