Get Your Kids Actually Chatting On The Phone !

Today’s Pause To Ponder !

Get your kids using the phone!

Self-confidence comes out of a sense of competence and children develop confidence not because you tell them they’re great, but because of their own achievements, big and small.

Of course it’s lovely to hear encouraging words from you but words of praise and encouragement mean more when they refer to your child’s specific efforts or new abilities and skills. Make sure your encouragement is really specific & detailed about what they have achieved, like catching a ball with one hand, or completing a challenging task whilst showing their tenacity, as it means so much more to your child rather than a bland ‘Wow – you’re so clever’

When kids achieve something, whether it’s brushing their own teeth, learning to ride their bike without stabilisers, tying their shoelaces, or doing up their buttons, they get a sense of themselves as able and capable, and feel a blossoming sense of confidence in their own ability.

Building self-confidence can begin very early. When babies learn to turn the pages of a book or toddlers learn to walk, they are getting the idea “I can do it!” and with each new skill and milestone, children are developing their increasing sense of competence and confidence.

You can help by giving your children lots of opportunities to practice and master their skills, letting them make mistakes ( because they learn so much from them) and being there to boost their spirits so they keep trying. Tenacity is an important life skill, and I still remember the day my Dad used that word for the first time with me, and it has been a guiding principle in my life ever since.

If you simply respond with interest and excitement when your children masters a new skill and you reward them with praise, a hug or a smile they will develop a sense of self confidence second to none.

Offer your child plenty of opportunities, clear instructions and relax and be patient as they master basic skills and you’ll create the attitude of of ‘I can do this ‘ so when other important challenges present themselves, as they get older, they will have the resilience to approach them knowing that they have already been successful in other areas.

So with this in mind today I want you to ponder teaching your child how to use the phone confidently!

With so much modern technology & alternative ways of communicating from text to Whatsapp, children today spend less and less time making conversation on the phone. Making conversation and speaking confidently on the phone is an incredibly important life skill and it is a great way to learn to ask questions, read intonation & tone of voice and to develop the ability to keep the conversation going.

From chatting regularly to Grandma, to booking a restaurant, to making an appointment at the dentist, offers children an opportunity to develop their confidence which can lead to communication confidently on the phone when they go out to work!

Making an impression on people is far easier when speaking than in text or an email.

So get them calling family and friends as much as possible and let’s get more kids actually talking to each other !