Your Confidence Is Contagious: Why Parents Matter More Than They Think

Before your child believes “I can do this,” they may need to see that you believe it first.

(This is the second of three articles regarding children who struggle to read and parents who need their questions answered).

The most important aspect of teaching reading, or any other subject, is understanding that we must instill confidence within our children — nothing is more important. In future articles, I’ll stress the relevance of parental self-confidence, and how it transfers to their children.

So, let’s begin…

Children watch us. They hear us. They observe what we say. What we do.

All the time.

More closely than we sometimes realize.

They watch how we respond when things go wrong.

They hear the tone of our voices when they make mistakes.

They notice when we become frustrated.

And they notice when we believe in them.

That’s why one of the most powerful tools a parent can bring to a child’s education cannot be purchased from a curriculum company.

It is confidence.

Imagine sitting beside a struggling reader.

Your child reaches a word and hesitates.

You sigh.