ShareHOW CAN HELP KIDS BUILD CONFIDENCE?
If you work with children, you know just how much of an impact self-confidence can have on their everyday lives. Children with healthy self-esteem feel pride in their accomplishments, self-assurance in their ability to achieve, and acceptance from themselves and their peers. Overall, confidence helps kids be the best they can be at home, at school, alone and with friends — and it’s a vital part of healthy child development.
Here are five of the many ways that playing on the playground helps build self-esteem.
1. BUILDS PEER RELATIONSHIPS
Children feel an innate need to fit in with their peers, but some kids find it more difficult than others to make friends. When children do not feel like they fit in, they might feel like they aren’t as good or likable as the other kids. But when they overcome these feelings, kids will feel a sense of accomplishment and belonging to a larger community.
Playground equipment such as swings and activity panels gives kids a place to explore their interests together and achieve common goals. An inclusive play space allows for collaborative play and takes away some of the awkwardness kids feel when approaching someone new.
2. ALLOWS KIDS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND PURSUE THEIR INTERESTS
Kids feel more powerful when they’re allowed to make their own choices. While structured activities have their importance, unstructured playtime on the playground empowers children to explore their interests independently as they choose which equipment and activities they most enjoy.
Not only will they feel more competent in their decision-making abilities as they try new things, but kids can also discover talents and interests to didn’t know they had. They’ll feel a sense of pride as they identify activities they’re good at and genuinely enjoy.
3. ENCOURAGES HEALTHY RISK-TAKING
Any time a child tries something new is an opportunity for a self-confidence boost. Kids need to take risks to build lasting confidence, and a playground allows them to take these risks in a safe, supervised environment. Walking across a balance beam or swinging across the monkey bars might feel intimidating to them at first, but they’ll feel a sense of pride as they learn new skills and achieve their goals.
4. DEVELOPS ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS
The skills children learn from the playground affect every aspect of development. Playing on the playground can improve cognitive function, leading to higher test scores and increasing confidence in the classroom. Play can also boost motor and social skills, critical thinking, hand-eye coordination, and creativity, which help kids excel in many areas of life. Developing these abilities can help encourage confidence in nearly any area of life throughout a child’s entire lifetime.
5. HELPS KIDS MANAGE DISAPPOINTMENT AND FRUSTRATION
Some of the best childhood memories happen on a playground, but children can also experience feelings of impatience, frustration, and disappointment. When they have to stand in line to use a slide or try to play with someone who is still learning to share, they learn that these negative experiences aren’t the end of the world. With proper encouragement from a caregiver, kids learn to manage and overcome frustration or disappointment.
If you have any questions or are interested in the PLAY SYSTEM products, please contact us for advice and answers. We are looking forward to supporting you.
Address: Room 101, 226/4A Le Trong Tan Street, Tay Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (028) 66 82 7777 – (028) 66 86 7777
Hotline: (028) 22 494 333
Email: [email protected]