Confidence building comes naturally for boys because of their testosterone levels. However, it does not come easily for girls. Parents and educators must build their confidence. After all, educators and parents want girls to grow up to be emotionally strong in today’s world. As caregivers and educators, we tell girls to listen to what is said, but speak the wrong words. Thus, create a wrong message. To build their leadership skills, they must not be told they are bossy, fat, or stupid.
Confidence Builders
A recent study in the publication Science, reveals that very young girls think that brilliance is a male trait. Also, by the time girls are 6 years old, they move away from an activity that is for a ‘really’ smart person to handle. Empowering girls to be confident is not an easy task.
• Encourage free play. Don’t be concerned about what she wants to play – fireman, policeman or lawyer. Throw traditional roles out the window. Let her make her own rules of play.
• Let her have pride. Both boys and girls are able to speak of their accomplishments. So, encourage girls not be uncomfortable to brag about their achievements.
• It is okay to fail. In order to reach success and to build a strong will to achieve, failure is imperative. It’s best to let both boys and girls struggle with a problem. Girls need to handle setbacks as they happen. Experience is a lesson learned.
• At all costs, avoid the word ‘bossy’. Let girls apply their ‘leadership skills’.
• Find the middle road between politeness and assertiveness. Manners are nice, but knowing when and where to be assertive is nicer.
• Believe and help her to love herself.
Today’s World
Today, girls contend with two societal dilemmas. One, the passive female who sits by and has no self-confidence or the assertive female who speaks up and takes the lead. Parents and educators must take part in raising and teaching girls to believe in themselves. Also, most of all, they need to trust their capabilities to participate in science and math courses along with the participation in a sport.
