Safety is an essential component of survival for all life forms. As consciously aware beings, it goes a step further for humans. We not only need to be safe, but it is of great necessity for us to feel safe as well.  The perception of being in a secure environment is vital for children to thrive mentally and emotionally as they grow. For this reason, making children feel safe is also important in helping to build confidence.  Children need to explore the world around them. If they feel safe to explore their curiosity, they may develop a healthy imagination, and learn new problem-solving skills as they go. Feeling safe to explore also helps children develop a stronger sense of self accountability, as they will undoubtedly practice trial and error to find solutions to everyday problems. Adults can promote healthy exploration by acting as guides that refrain from acts of judgment and punishment. This serves as an implied, open invitation to evaluate and experience the world creatively and freely. Without worry of being judged and punished for their exploration, children feel a sense of unconditional love from their caregivers.Unconditional love is very valuable to human development. Children are vulnerable to the effects of not feeling accepted, especially from those they look up to. Imagine feeling as if you will only be loved based on your achievements. This may hinder creativity and place children under immense pressure. Performance based love is unhealthy and may make children feel insecure when they don’t rise to expectations. On the other hand, unconditional love can help give children the freedom to try and fail, which is vital for learning. Giving children the space and freedom to try new things, despite fear of failure, is invaluable in their journey to self-discovery. They develop a higher level of confidence and self-esteem in having the freedom to learn while feeling both loved and supported. Having doubts and second thoughts about taking risks is a natural part of human reasoning, therefore we may be more apt to trying new endeavors when any risk of losing love and support is eliminated. Unconditional, however, does not mean accepting all behavior. It simply means loving and guiding children through their mistakes for healthy development to take place. There are different ways to help children value their own inputs and to guide healthy choices. One affective way is by demonstrating your own confidence as a child’s caregiver. Leading by positive example is a proven method to help guide the development of healthy habits in children. Demonstrating confidence through positive actions and showing initiative to make decisions helps to convey confidence. Caregivers should be aware of the messages they are sending to children through verbal and nonverbal cues. Children hear words but actions resonate more deeply and may imprint messages that children will carry throughout their lives. Therefore, the messages we send to children should be positive and affirming. Body language is a very good way to show your confidence.

Sitting or standing up straight, speaking clearly, looking directly at someone as you are speaking to them, and refraining from fidgeting are just a few ways to convey a high level of confidence. Children can sense when adults lack confidence and are unsure of themselves. You must learn to establish your authority in a non-threatening, non-confrontational manner to be an effective, confident leader and caregiver. Children need to feel safe, loved, and guided to trust in your ability to lead them. Many adults may struggle with showing confidence because they were not given the space and freedom to exercise these qualities. For this reason, it is vital to stop any cycles that negatively affect a child’s development. Children rely on their caregivers and their environment to guide them on how to interact and maneuver throughout the world. We can give them a head start on being great leaders who are well rounded and confident by providing a safe, loving, environment that affirms positive behavior. Confidence is a quality that can be acquired through nurturing a child through different situations and allowing them to learn, while holding them accountable for their actions. Being patient, recognizing achievements, and building strong relationships with children are positive ways to create a confidence building environment. Children will face challenges on their developmental journey and how caregivers react to these challenges may permanently imprint on a child’s mind. It’s vital that we maintain an open space for them to explore in a healthy and meaningful manner. Children are very impressionable and fragile, and its important for their caregivers to provide a secure environment where they can freely learn and explore what it means to trust and value their own abilities. There are many creative ways to approach the concept of building confidence, as it is not a one size fits all endeavor. Some children may possess a natural sense of confidence that only needs nurturing to maintain, while others may convey a shy mannerism that needs to more of a push toward trusting themselves to do a good job. Regardless, it is always a good idea to reinforce positive, confident behavior through acts of love and support, providing a safe, nurturing environment, and leading by example.