The last few months, my daughter has been coming downstairs and sitting with me while I enjoy my coffee in the mornings. We talk about school, sports, and what she’s worried or excited about. This time has been an opportunity for me to encourage her, to help her grow in confidence before we head out the door. Building confidence in girls really can be that convenient.
Each day is an opportunity for us to pour into our kids and lead them to become successful adults. We do not have to add much to our calendars to be intentional about this each day. We can use the natural rhythms of our days and weeks to help our daughters become confident. Here are 4 everyday ways to build confidence in your daughter.
Be positive and encouraging first thing in the morning to set your daughter up for a successful day.1. Make mornings meaningful.
Great coaches inspire people to see themselves accomplishing things they never dreamed they could. This is what you can do each morning for your girl. Every morning I tell my daughter to go be a Cooley today. Then I make her tell me what that means: “Cooleys are kind, Cooleys are leaders, and Cooleys can change the world,” she says. Be positive and encouraging first thing in the morning to set your daughter up for a successful day.
2. Make mealtimes memorable.
Make a commitment during meals that your role is to be a teacher in order to establish values. Listen for positive comments she may make about herself and speak into them with positive reinforcement. If she shares instead about how she bombed a tryout or got a bad grade on a test, use that to teach her about failure and what she can learn from it. Every meal is an opportunity to build up confidence in your girl by sharing truths that she’ll never forget.
3. Don’t waste drivetime.
In the car, listen for questions she may have about the world and help her process her current life stage. Some of the best conversations I have had with my daughter have happened while driving to the store and back. Don’t mistake a mundane drive for a meaningless task. Any dad can use car time for building confidence in girls. While you’re driving, you are her captive audience. She probably wants to talk anyway, so give your daughter your attention.
4. Be present at bedtime.
It’s always around bedtime when my daughter’s tone changes and she says, “Dad, can I tell you something?” Slow down at bedtime and listen more than you talk. You do not have to have all the answers, and most of the time, our daughters just want to be heard. When you help her process life, she learns how to process life for herself—and that’ll make her more confident as she grows. If the conversation takes time, do your best to not shut it down simply because it’s getting late.
Sound off: What other parts of your day can you leverage for building confidence?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “When do you feel most confident?”