4 ways to teach your child to be a strong child

To do this, parents must teach their children how to be strong. Research shows that mentally tough people exhibit a range of traits and qualities such as confidence, resilience, and perseverance, which help them become happier, more successful people.

Researchers have also found that children and adults can both develop and cultivate mental toughness over time.

Here are four things parents can teach their children to help them become mentally strong.

Empower your child

According to psychotherapist Amy Morin (USA), self-confidence and self-motivation are important parts of mental strength. That means your child should not depend on others to feel good about themselves.

You help children feel confident about themselves by teaching them repetitive phrases that remind them to take responsibility for how they think, feel, and behave, regardless of what those around them think.

Amy suggests short and memorable slogans like "All I can do is try my best," "Act confidently," "I am good enough," and "Today, I choose happiness."

Show your child the value of doing something difficult.

It can be difficult to watch your child fail at something. However, parents need to show their children that taking on challenges can teach them many things, such as how to handle pressure, whether they succeed or fail.

Praise your child when they bravely face a difficult challenge, according to psychologist Mary C. Murphy, professor of psychological and brain sciences, Indiana University, USA.

Parents should help their children reflect on what they have learned and how they can apply those new lessons and skills in the future.

Murphy suggests trying to tell your child personal stories about when you persevered in difficult situations and what you learned from past mistakes. “Stories like these help normalize and show kids that most things worth doing are a little bit difficult, especially at first,” Murphy says.

Be optimistic

Your attitude can be contagious. That's why child psychologists say it's important for parents to model good behavior for their children. Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki, a professor at the Center for Neuroscience at New York University, says optimism is an important part of mental strength.

Educational psychologist Michele Borba (California, USA) said that optimistic, hopeful children will feel more in control in life and are often more confident when taking on new challenges.

Optimism can be learned and taught. So remember that children are always listening and watching for cues about behavior. “The next time something happens, you can say, ‘It’s okay, we’ve got this,’” Borba says.

Teach your child how to apologize and when to apologize.

Key to mental strength is emotional intelligence, which includes empathy and self-awareness. Teach your child the importance of respecting others and themselves, including respectfully listening to their point of view and sincerely apologizing when they have wronged someone.

That doesn't mean you or your child should constantly apologize. Morin warns against falling into the trap of toxic self-blame, where negative thoughts sap confidence.

Just remember that mentally tough people take responsibility for their actions. “They offer sincere apologies when they regret their actions and try to make amends whenever possible,” says Morin.