One great confidence booster is to allow your child to participate in the everyday life of the family. It is through this participation that crucial aspects of personality and intellect will develop. As your son or daughter becomes skilful at carrying out everyday household tasks, he/she discovers the joy of learning and of purposeful activities, and feels that he too has something useful to contribute to the family.
With a little thought, almost any ‘job’ at home can be structured so that your son or daughter can carry it out or, at least, help in the doing. Provide him/her with small implements that he or she can easily manage. Take the time to show how to carry out the activity, using slow, precise movements. Do maintain a sense of humour, even if at first your child makes more mess than there was before. Do not re-do any part of the project in front of the child and, if possible, do not correct any part of it at all. And always remember to give lots of praise.
It is not really important if the child puts her sweater on backwards or his shirt inside out; what is important is that the child has done it him/herself, without having to depend upon an adult. With practice, the child will be able to carry out the activity perfectly. Before long you will find that the child’s ‘help’ really is help.