10 Things You Can Do To Foster Confidence in Your Children (UPDATED)

I'm noticing a big surge in confidence these days in both my kids.  Here are some things we've been practicing over the last few years that are finally paying off.

• Let your kids try new things.  Too often as parents we are so nervous about our children experiencing failure that we hold them back without realizing it.  So go ahead--if your little guy has any inclination to try the slide, go to the edge of the creek or say hi to a new friend, don't hold him back!  He'll be happy he tried and you can always go along to shadow him if safety is a concern.
• Value adventure over safety.  Speaking of safety, I think sometimes we are too quick to send our kids the message that the world is dangerous when nine times out of ten the thing we fear never actually happens.  I think it's a better policy to encourage adventure and teach safety along with way.  With the right skills and tools, there's no reason our kids can't discover their own natural confidence by pursuing adventure in a serious way. 
• Don't react too strongly over minor disasters.   I learned early on that my kids were way more durable than I imagined;  the best way to find out is to hold back my own reactions and wait for my kids to tell me whether there's a real problem or not.  My kids learned that I had confidence in the process of learning and that little bumps and bruises really aren't anything to hold you back--especially when you're trying something new.
• Entertain strangers, immigrants and people who don't look like you.  Learning how to relate and connect to people who are different than you are gives you the confidence to know what to do and what to say anytime you have to deal in a brand new social situation.  Finding out early on that differences dissolve in the face of friendly conversation is a great confidence booster for everyone involved. 
• Sample new foods.  Fear is a major factor that keeps all of us back from new experiences.  The restaurant table is a perfect place to learn the art of taking risks, trying new things and finding out it won't hurt you to find out what works for you and what doesn't. 
• Celebrate tiny accomplishments.  Make it a point to notice when your kids are making an effort to tackle a new task like pouring a drink or (as in happening in the next room as I type!) learning how to use a can opener.  These little risks add up to big confidence when your child can claim mastery. 
• Let your little ones blossom in their own time.  Nothing hurts confidence more than being pushed to do something you aren't quite ready to tackle just yet.  It's okay to follow your kid's cues when making decisions about what's next on the learning agenda--don't let anyone else's timetable sway you.
• Trust your own intuition.  If you're full of self-doubt, your kids will be too.  Practice trusting your intuition and following it wisely.  Your example can make a powerful difference--even if you can only trust yourself a little bit at a time.  The point is to model for your kids that confidence in your own point of view.
• Let your children cook with you.  If your brave, teach them how to do it themselves.  Cooking is a grown-up skill that boosts confidence, self-awareness and personal responsibility.  With supervision, your child can increase competency while also learning about limits and safety.
• Trust your child.  Nothing communicates confidence more than trust.  Look for ways to demonstrate your trust--can you bring in the mail, please?  i'm waiting for an important bill--and act on it.  When we monitor our own fear and let our children be as capable as they really are, deep confidence will follow.

What has helped your kids in your quest to build up their confidence?  Feel free to add your own good advice regarding confidence in the comments below.