International Women's Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women and girls around the world and to reflect on the challenges they still face. In today's society, one of the biggest challenges for young women is maintaining positive mental health in the face of societal pressures, social media, and other stressors. 

Building confidence and self-esteem is an essential part of promoting positive mental health for girls, helping them to develop resilience, creativity, and a sense of purpose. As a parent, inspiring confidence in your daughter can seem daunting, especially in a world where forces like social media seem determined to do the opposite. But the truth is, there are simple, fun ways to help your daughter build confidence and develop the resilience she needs to thrive. 

In this post, we'll explore five effective yet simple ways to inspire confidence in young girls, even when time and money are limited. So whether you're a mom, dad, aunt, sister, or mentor, read on for some easy, enjoyable ways to help the young girl in your life grow into a confident, empowered woman. Together, we can create a brighter, healthier future for women and girls everywhere.

 

The Power of Confident Young Girls: 

It might go without saying, but confidence is a game-changer for all children. It is an essential trait that can greatly influence a person's success and happiness in life. For young girls, having confidence can set the foundation for a bright future filled with opportunities and achievements. By nurturing confidence, we can empower young women to reach their full potential.

 

Why confidence is so important: 

 

• Confidence is a key factor in success. Girls who are confident in themselves are likelier to pursue their goals and take risks. 

 

• Confident girls are more likely to have healthy relationships with others. They can better communicate their needs and boundaries and are less likely to tolerate negative treatment from others.

 

• It reduces the risk of mental health issues. Low self-esteem and confidence are linked to anxiety and depression. By teaching girls confidence, we can help reduce the risk of these issues and promote overall well-being.

 

• Girls who are confident in themselves are more likely to be independent and make decisions based on their own needs and desires. This can help them develop a strong sense of self and avoid relying on others for validation.

 

• It prepares them for future challenges. The world can be a challenging place, and girls will face many obstacles throughout their lives. By teaching them confidence, we can help prepare them for these challenges and give them the tools they need to overcome them.

 

The power of confidence cannot be understated. In fact, numerous studies from highly respected scientific journals have demonstrated that confident girls are not only more likely to achieve academic excellence and career success while having more positive personal relationships. They are also less likely to experience anxiety and depression.

 

 Instilling confidence should be a top priority for parents, educators, and society as a whole. However, many of us may be unsure of how to actually build confidence in girls. Fear not; in the following section, we'll dive into the fundamental principles of confidence building that will set young girls on a path toward a successful and fulfilling life.

 

The Essentials of Instilling Confidence Every Day:

 

As busy parents, mentors, and caregivers, finding the time to focus on confidence-building can be challenging. However, lessons in confidence can be incorporated into daily life, even amidst our hectic schedules. 

 

Each day provides endless opportunities to set a positive example. Behavior modeling is a powerful tool for guiding young kids. By demonstrating positive behaviors, we can show our children how to navigate the world with confidence in many ways. 

• Teach resilience: Setbacks and failures are a normal part of life. Role models to young girls should be honest and open about their own challenges while teaching that it’s important to keep trying and never give up.

 

• Challenge stereotypes: Both men and women can challenge gender stereotypes to help girls understand that there are no limits to what they can achieve.

 

• Model confidence: Female role models should exhibit confidence by demonstrating healthy self-esteem and avoiding negative self-talk and self-criticism. Observing other women putting themselves down will teach girls to do the same. Instead, show young girls that confidence is a positive and valuable trait.

 

• Provide encouragement and positive reinforcement: Support the pursuit of their interests and passions by being engaged in what they love and providing positive reinforcement when they achieve.

 

5 Simple Activities to Build Confidence in Girls: 

There are many simple and affordable ways parents can inspire confidence in their daughters beyond everyday behavior modeling. In fact, there are plenty of fun activities that can help boost their self-esteem and strengthen the bond between parents and daughters. 

 

Here are five empowering ideas to get started and spread some girl power vibes! With a little creativity and enthusiasm, we can help the women of the future develop the confidence they need to thrive and succeed in life. So let's dive in and make confidence-building a fun and exciting journey!

1. Try something new (for both of you), or get better at something together. 

 

Learning something new with your child can be an excellent way to model confidence and instill it in your child as well. It demonstrates that we're not afraid to step outside of our comfort zones and take risks, which can be a powerful example for our children.

 

It’s also a great way to positively embrace imperfection! Not being great at something shows that it's okay to make mistakes and that failure is a natural part of the learning process. When children see their parents embracing their imperfections and still maintaining a positive attitude, they learn that perfection is not necessary for happiness or success. This can help build resilience and self-confidence by making them less afraid of making mistakes.

 

By involving our daughters in activities that challenge us and allow us to learn and grow together, we're setting the stage for them to develop their own confidence and sense of adventure. This can be a great bonding experience and a fun way to stimulate confidence in both ourselves and our children.

 

Activities that embrace imperfection to inspire confidence: 

 

• Study a new language together on a free educational app

We love Duolingo. You can learn completely for free, and it provides programs great for kids ages 4+ and adults!

• Try your hand at photography using online tips and guides
• Learn chess together
• Cook a tricky new recipe
• Go bowling, mini golfing, or to the batting cage

2. Create a vision board with both ultra-ambitious and achievable goals.

A vision board is a visual representation of one's goals, aspirations, and dreams. It can be a collection of images, words, and phrases that inspire and motivate. Creating a vision board with achievable goals can be a powerful tool for girls to build confidence by:

 

• Focusing on the positive: A vision board focuses on what the girl wants to achieve rather than what she wants to avoid or eliminate. This positive focus can help her feel more confident in her abilities to achieve her goals.

 

• Providing motivation: Seeing a visual representation of her goals can provide motivation and inspiration. It can help girls stay focused on what they want to achieve and remind them of the reasons why those goals are important to them.

 

• Increasing clarity: Creating a vision board can help clarify her goals and aspirations. Taking time to think about what she wants to achieve can help her develop a greater sense of purpose and direction.

 

• Encouraging creativity: Creating a vision board can be a fun and creative process that allows girls to express themselves visually. This can help her feel more confident in her own creativity and unique perspective.

 

Choosing a mix of big challenging goals and achievable goals provides essential experience in problem-solving through setbacks and even addressing failure in a healthy way.

 

 Many girls can tend to seek perfection, which can lead to anxiety and burnout, as well as a sense of inadequacy or failure. Maintaining an ambitious vision board is an opportunity to learn that failure is not the end of the world and that striving for big things provides valuable learning experiences.

3. Make a chore chart and have them pitch in around the house.

By assigning age-appropriate responsibilities around the house, parents can help girls feel like they are contributing to the household and have a sense of purpose. This can be a boost to their self-esteem and confidence.

 

Completing chores successfully can give girls a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work, which can be an important factor in building self-confidence. As they become more skilled and efficient at completing tasks, they may also develop a greater sense of autonomy and self-reliance, which are key components of confidence.

 

Chores can also help girls develop important life skills, such as organization, time management, and problem-solving. These skills can be useful not only in completing household tasks but also in many other areas of life, such as school, work, and personal relationships. Success in these areas will help to reinforce the confidence they’ve learned at home. 

 

Finally, involving girls in household chores can also help foster a sense of responsibility and teamwork as they learn to work alongside family members to achieve common goals. This can be a valuable lesson in collaboration and communication, which are essential skills for success in many areas of life. 

 

Here are some great age-appropriate chores for kids of all ages. Look for opportunities to “promote” tasks to more complicated, impactful versions as they grow to let them see their progress. 

 

Chores for Kids Aged 3-5: 

• Putting away their toys and books each night
• Setting the table (with assistance)
• Making their bed
• Sorting Laundry (by color or type)

 

Chores for Kids Aged 6-10: 

• Feeding and watering pets
• Clearing dishes after meals
• Vacuuming or sweeping the floor
• Folding and putting away their laundry

 

Chores for Kids Aged 11-15: 

• Putting away groceries
• Cleaning the kitchen after meals
• Mowing the lawn or raking leaves
• Doing laundry (washing, drying, folding, and putting away)

 

4. Have a Dance Party

Sometimes teaching confidence doesn’t have to be that deep. Dancing has the power to uplift, energize, and inspire. It's a fun and simple way to encourage self-expression and build confidence in girls of all ages. You don't need any special equipment or training to have a dance party with your daughter - just put on some upbeat music, clear some space in the living room, and let your hair down! 

 

Dancing has the power to:

 

• Encourage self-expression: Dance can help young girls feel more comfortable expressing themselves in a safe and supportive environment. When girls feel free to move and express themselves through dance, they can gain a sense of confidence in their abilities and their unique personalities.

 

• Build a positive body image: When girls see themselves moving and having fun, they can begin to appreciate their bodies for what they can do rather than just how they look. This can help build confidence and self-esteem.

 

• Provide bonding time with mom or dad: Dancing with parents can be a fun and meaningful way to spend time together. When girls feel connected to their parents and have positive experiences with them, they can feel more supported and confident in themselves.

Dancing can help girls connect with their bodies, release stress, and feel more comfortable in their own skin. So, if you're looking for a fun and easy way to inspire confidence in your daughter, turn up the music and dance like nobody's watching!

 

5. Challenge family and friends to a game night.

Board games can help build confidence in kids by encouraging them to use their problem-solving skills and develop social skills. Here are different types of board games that can be effective at building confidence in kids, along with some of our favorites:

 

• Cooperative games: Cooperative games require players to work together to achieve a common goal. By collaborating with others, kids can develop teamwork skills, build their confidence in their ability to work with others, and experience the satisfaction of achieving a goal as a team.

 

SHOP NOW: Forbidden Island

 

• Strategy games: Strategy games challenge players to make decisions and solve problems. By playing strategy games, kids can develop their critical thinking and decision-making skills, which can help build confidence in their ability to solve problems and make good choices.

 

SHOP NOW: Taco vs. Burrito

 

• Role-playing games: Role-playing games allow kids to imagine themselves in different roles and scenarios. By role-playing, kids can develop their creativity, empathy, and social skills, which can help build their confidence in themselves and their ability to relate to others.

 

SHOP NOW: Disney Villianous

 

• Trivia games: By answering questions correctly, kids can feel a sense of accomplishment and build confidence in their ability to learn and retain information.

 

SHOP NOW: Trivial Pursuit Family Edition

 

With any competitive activity, it’s key to emphasize that it’s not about winning. When children understand that the goal is to enjoy the game, learn new things, and spend quality time with others, they can develop a healthier attitude towards competition. 

 

 For game night, the journey is just as important as the destination, and the real prize is the sense of accomplishment and personal growth that comes from participating.

 

Let’s Get Confident: 

 

Building confidence in young girls is essential to their mental health, well-being, and future success. Luckily, there are many simple and fun ways to encourage self-expression, promote a growth mindset, and inspire confidence in your daughters.

 

From dance parties and vision boards to age-appropriate chores and cooperative games, many activities can help girls develop a strong sense of self-worth, resilience, and leadership skills. By focusing on the process rather than the outcome, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and trying new things, and creating a supportive and empowering environment, parents can help their daughters build the confidence they need to thrive in all areas of their lives.

 

Remember, confidence is not something that comes naturally to everyone, but with practice and encouragement, it can be developed and nurtured. So, take the time to invest in your daughter's confidence, and watch her grow into a strong, resilient, and confident young woman.