Confidence is one of those things that can be difficult to measure, but easy to spot when you see it. It’s a student who used to hesitate participating in class slowly but surely begin volunteering answers. It’s someone who was nervous about meeting new people beginning to make friends more easily. It’s a child who used to avoid doing new things stepping outside of their comfort zone to take risks. Small changes gradually add up over time, and before long, children start believing in their own abilities – and that’s exactly what we want them to do. 

The reality is that confidence doesn’t appear overnight; it tends to develop through different experiences, practice, encouragement, and new opportunities. This is why after-school activities play such an important role in a child’s development.  

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Learn New Skills 

When a child masters something they previously found really hard to do, whether a sport, music, drama, art, coding, or any other activity that challenged them, confidence soars! This goes beyond children and encompasses all of us who has ever started something new at the very beginning. At first, we might (and probably will) struggle. We will make mistakes and feel unsure of ourselves. This is the point where many give up.

But if we stick with it and learn from those mistakes, we begin improving. When especially children see that progress is possible, they actually begin understanding that skills aren’t something people are born with. With practice and effort, they can become good at things. That’s such an important lesson in life. Learning it young builds confidence and helps them try new things and achieve more as they get older too. 

Earn Success = Pride 

A lot of after school activities involve setting goals and working towards them. For example, a child might learn a routine, master a difficult technique, improve their performance, or complete a project they’ve been working on for weeks. They’ll then see they’re achieving something after putting effort into it, and that’s going to feel a lot more rewarding than something that comes more easily. 

Every achievement gives children real life evidence that they’re capable of learning, improving, and overcoming challenges. There’s nothing better than the feeling of personal pride, and that definitely has a massively positive effect on confidence in other areas of life.

Meet New People 

School friendships are important, of course, and kids do need them, but after-school activities often introduce children to people they wouldn’t normally meet. This gives them opportunities to develop social skills in different environments and interact with people who share similar interests. All three of my kids have made friends through their club sports and each time their social circles expanded, so did their confidence.

For many children, just joining a new group can feel like a big step, understandably so! But if they can be comfortable around new people, that’s going to often help them feel more confident in social situations in general. Just imagine how handy that’s going to be for them as they get older and go off to college, start new jobs, or work with unfamiliar faces. I have a friend who says life begins outside of our comfort zones and she’s absolutely right!

Learn Mistakes Are Important 

One thing a lot of children struggle with is the fear of getting something wrong, and the problem is that confidence can really suffer when children start believing they need to be perfect right away. All three of my kids are like this and it’s VERY difficult as a parent to witness. The good news is that after school activities often help to echo the fact that mistakes are just seen as part of the process. There is no such thing as perfection; mistakes are fantastic opportunities to learn and get better. 

Once a child is a bit more comfortable making a mistake, they earn one more building block of confidence. They feel more capable of trying new things, even if they’re not necessarily going to get it right first time (or second!), but the willingness to just try is a big win.

Performing Can Build Self Belief 

Not every after school activity involves performing, but those that do, like drama productions, music recitals, competitions, presentations, and sporting events, all place children in situations where they need to perform in front of others. That can feel pretty intimidating for a lot of kids, especially at first. 

My son is incredibly shy. At almost 17-years-old, he’ll still ask his 12-year-old sister to do things like ask questions on his behalf or place his order at a fast food joint! But he is a gamer! If it’s the last inning of the championship game and we’re down by one with two outs, my kid wants the ball. He thrives on the kind of adrenaline that honestly still makes me nervous as an adult! It seems contradictory to his personality because it is! But playing baseball, basketball, and golf has given him a huge boost in confidence. Competing in sports has helped him understand he can cope with stressful situations in life, too. The goal is that kids come away feeling proud of what they’ve achieved.

Find Things They Love 

One of the most valuable things about after school activities is that they allow children to explore different interests. This is how they discover real passion for something; the more chances they have to find out what they like, the better. 

For example, some children love playing sports, and they’ll get more confidence that way, but it’s important for these athletes to also explore the arts: music, theatre, or a dance conservatory program where they can develop skills, technical ability, and, of course, fantastic confidence. Having a creative outlet is important for coping with stress, too.

As a parent, it’s wise to encourage the kids whatever it is they’re into, and don’t try to push them to do something just because you think it’s what they should like or should do. That’s a good way to put them off, and it might even damage their confidence in the end. 

Gain More Independence 

As children get more involved in activities, they start being a bit more responsible and independent because they have to learn to manage their time. They have to abide by their team’s schedule, remember their equipment, practice at home, and, often, make personal goals and work towards them – by themselves.

What’s great is that these small responsibilities help children develop independence, which has a positive effect on confidence. Budding confidence makes children happier and more comfortable in their own skin and that’s a beautiful thing.

 

This is a collaborative post.