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Give them time and plenty of encouragement to try new things. They have to learn that no one is good at everything but if they do their best that's all anyone can ask of them.

If they show a liking or an aptitude for something encourage it to blossom.

Always encourage them without being pushy
Try to make things fun and praise them
Try and sit them down and explain things simply without overwhelming them
Be positive
Listen to them
And let them help resolve things this gives them confidence

Listen to them about their day, play with them even if your just wanting that cup of tea and a sit down. Have play dates with other children to help with socialising aspect. And most important show by example- don't burden them with naggings in front of them about your day etc, be confident and happy in your day to day life and they will follow suit.

Help them unleash their imagination and support them to let it grow through play. When a child is lost in story and exploration, they have little concept of self esteem. Yet, the encouragement of this type of play can boost confidence as they can explore a variety of situations in a safe way.

be truthful, they know if they have not done something well, but be prepared to show them how to improve.keep interested in them and keep them interested in the world.

Allowing children to do things for themselves boosts their confidence. Giving them the space to make mistakes and the encouragement to keep trying and not give up is great for their self esteem too.

Expose them to new experiences and places. Overseas travel is brilliant for young children's development and is a real confidence booster!

I try to talk to small children without using baby language and cooing at them. I remember my Dad telling me I had lovely strong hands like a pianist when I was very small. There's always something positive to say and it can help with their confidence.

I think it's important to socialise children from a young age with playgroups and nursery. Make sure you listen to them and give them the attention they need.

Listen to them. Explain to them the reasons why you are punishing them .Give praise when they do something good. Always take interest when they are speaking to you. Tell them you love them. Tell them to think of other people feelings.

As a grandparent, I treat them with respect and love, listen to them and confide in them so they feel very grown up and wanted.

Praise everything creative or brave they do and encourage them to not worry about what others think. I always used to be shy when I was younger but around my own kids I'm constantly being silly, singing and dancing, (even though I often feel a little uncomfortable), but I want to encourage them not to worry about what others think.

Praise them for things well done, no matter how small.

listen to them & let them help make decisions even if it's just which game to play, telling them what a great decision they have made always brings a big confident smile to my son's face!

Get down to their level. Try to remember the frustration you felt as a child. Remember that their level of reasoning is not the same as yours

Listen to them, speak to them at their level so you are not talking down to them. Praise achievements and don't brush off disappointments, allow them to express their feelings.

Focus on the glass half full

Always listen to them and let the express themselves. If they are doing something wrong try to explain it through with them. Always praise where praise is due x

Don'y over-praise. Encourage children to set themselves a goal of something they would like to achieve. Let them take small risks whilst you are overseeing the situation from a safety point of view.

I think the best thing is to start with something that you know they will enjoy and you know they will be able to do. Confidence building starts with the small things then you can build up to tackling harder things. Be an encourager and use encouraging language, reassure them that they are doing the right thing and share their moments of sucess with them!

get them smiling

Never ever embarrass a child or make fun of them, also do not give false praise - we all (children included) can tell when it isn't deserved, instead find something real to praise - there is always something. Always listen with your full attention and, as everyone on Gransnet knows - always keep your promises to children!

Praise achievements, no matter how small. Meeting small milestones will lead to an appetite for tackling more complex challenges, boosting self-esteem and reassuring your child that they have everything they need to approach things and achieve them.

Gently encourage them to try new things, very small steps outside their comfort zone, so they learn how capable they are. Don't let them hear you describe them as shy, timid or lacking in confidence. If you always talk about them as being brave and capable they'll believe it.