How to help teens become more confident - share with #iwill - chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

The team at #iwill would love to know how you help teens become (more) confident

What is #iwill?
The #iwill campaign promotes creating more opportunities for young people to get involved in social action - enabling more 10-20 year olds to say #iwill to doing activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering in their communities to make them a better place.

By doing so, young people create a double-benefit – improving the lives of others around them, as well as improving themselves. By getting involved in social action, young people can develop their employability skills, boost access to further and higher education and enhance their well-being, communication skills and character.

So far more than 700 business, education and voluntary sector partners across the UK have pledged #iwill to embedding social action into the lives of young people so that all young people are able to experience the benefits of taking part.

They’d love to know your top tips on encouraging teens to develop their confidence in school, outside of school, during work experience or with adults. Do you encourage them to volunteer with local clubs etc, to mix with other young people from different backgrounds, have they flourished with some support from a mentor at school or do they need help to get through exams and school tests? If you had some confidence boosting experiences when you were a teen, please share what helped you become a confident teen too.

If you’d like to know more, do visit the #iwill pages here where you can sign up to get your FREE #iwill guide and monthly newsletters to find out more about the benefits of supporting your children to take part in volunteering & social action.

Check out their video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= NR8YjpKseK4

Please share your top tips on teen confidence below - everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one person will win a £300 voucher for the store(s) of choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T and Cs Apply

[phillie1]

Have tried lots of things like volunteering etc, helping at clubs, but they both are lacking in confidence still - hopefully it will come as they get older.

[blue25]

Encourage them to push themselves out of their comfort zone and take risks.

[cheryl100]

I praise my teen for even the smallest thing - this builds his confidence so much

[mo3733]

from an early age i have encouraged my children to talk openly and honestly to people of various ages. i have taught them to respect their elders yet their opinion does matter and they do have a voice. i always actively encourage them to share their opinions on any major changes at home

[sheilads105]

I encourage them to help with school & church events where they have to talk to people they don't know but in a safe environment.

[tigga61]

respect their opinions and choices and speak to them as equals, always helps with me i have a great rapport with teens and now as a mature student at uni i have a lot who come to me for help and advice .

[abby12321]

Start when they’re young - encouraging self worth, problem solving, encouraging them to recognise emotions and talk about them.

Plenty of activities that they choose and control

[seeingdouble2]

Respect and trust, always tell my teenager they can tell me any thing and they will not be judged.

[kaizen99]

Treat them with respect and complement them on their efforts.

[Leanfun]

Always respect teenagers and treat them as young adults. Encourage them to follow their interests and make friends.

[Minnibix]

Its so hard because at that age most teens are not interested in Mom & Dad's opinion. Treat them with respect and always let them have a say/input to things that will affect them

[cwalliss82]

I am definitely in favour of the carrot rather than the stick. Positive encouragement rather than nagging gets better results.

[MrRichTea]

Positivity, talking, honest open-ness, trust

[maursieq]

Encouraging them to do things for themselves,e.g my daughter needs a new passport so I will show her how to do this so when she is living independently she has these core skills and she knows what's involved in the day to day realities of life.

[daisyduke66]

Clubs - both school and after school- have proven really good confidence boosters for all of mine :)

[HelenSw4les]

Encourage them to take advantage of opportunities, whether that be sport, dance, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme etc; these types of activities build confidence themselves and, as you know your child best, try and advise them to follow something they love.

[CopperPan]

I think giving them an appropriate level of freedom to make their own mistakes, but lots of support in the background so they know you're always there. Encourage them to take risks and rely on their own resourcefulness. Always try to remember your own experiences and know that the best way to learn is through experience.

[rocketgirl22]

Teach them to love, value and protect their bodies from a young age
Care for their homes and possessions
Self respect
Make their own decisions and to share their views and be listened to
Not to feel afraid of failure, it is a lesson and should be embraced
Not to give up, resilience

Get them outisde. Sport is a great stress reliever
Get their friend over and learn some tech discipline (not needing to use it all the time)
The value of reflection, mindfulness and time out
Boundaries, they still need them to feel secure

[lindali94]

While the young people are preparing for the life, many of us are making mistakes.

Let them make their own decisions, let them make mistakes, and then learn to deal with the consequences of their mistake. Of course not to restrict everything to the front. For example, we should avoid being technology addicts at an early age.

[lindali94]

While the young people are preparing for the life, many of us are making mistakes.

Let them make their own decisions, let them make mistakes, and then learn to deal with the consequences of their mistake. Of course not to restrict everything to the front. For example, we should avoid being technology addicts at an early age.

[Signoritawhocansway]

Confident kids become confident teens - you need to start well before teens! Exposure to different ages of adults regularly, encouraging a balance between politeness/stranger danger. Use positive praise wherever possible - not negative punishment unless totally necessary. Seems to be working so far for us...

[Falconhoof1]

I'm so impressed by my DD's confidence. I'm not sure how she got there but I think listening to them when they tell you about what they've been doing, treat them like you would a friend who had important things to tell you. I would love her to be more confident but she's doing well and finding her feet in the world.

[badgermum]

I encouraged my teen to join groups and do activities which he enjoy and fortunately my son has turned into a very confident 17 year old mentoring younger teens and being sent on leadership courses,

[SmartiesHaveTheAnswer]

I support young people 11-16 yrs in class and regularly tell them that exam stress and anxiety is a normal response to something important. I see lots and lots of youngsters unable to cope in these circumstances and totally lose the plot. Somewhere along their journey, they've learnt that these emotions = mental illness and some parents, their peers and the internet reinforce this concept and it renders them incapable of dealing with it.

I tell them that, while it's unpleasant, it can be overcome and worked through. I tell them about some of the stressors in adult lives (money, bills, jobs etc) and say that these emotions are a normal, albeit testing part of life. "There's no getting away from it so let's deal with it" type attitude.

Of course, there are pupils who genuinely struggle and are a cause for concern, but that's where safeguarding comes in.

Hope that makes sense.

[devito92]

My teenage son is involved in helping young children learn how to swim at the local swimming pool. He is an acomplished swimmer and thus helps him commincate with others both children and there parents.