It is vitally important to talk to your child, no matter how old or young they are they need to be told "WHY" they can do some things and cannot do other things. By knowing WHY you have made a decision, they themselves can think about the reasonableness of your choice.

They may decide to challenge it, and as a parent, you must learn to accept the challenges and be able to justify your decision.

This does not mean that you always have to change you mind and give in to your child, but it does mean that you should be able to explain your decisions.

As your child grows in confidence, they will also grow in assertiveness.

This is good and should not be viewed as insolence or disobedience.

The answer that some parents give, "Because I said so", is of little use when attempting to bestow the gift of confidence on a child.

This answer, by implication, is asking for "blind acceptance" by your child. It also symbolises the parent/child relationship as hierarchical with a dominant parent and a subservient child. This does not nurture confidence and sets a poor role model by implying that the parent cannot articulate or justify decisions except through resorting to a form of domineering bullying in order to get their way. A child who is always being ordered about is not going to develop the power to think for themselves, to reason, to reflect, to articulate their own thoughts or to feel confident and assertive at home, at school or at play.

The foundations laid down in childhood are the foundations that stay with us for the rest of our lives. If you want your child to grow into a confident and successful adult (and who doesn't) you must model and nurture confidence in your child from their earliest days.

Smile and encourage your child to try new things.

Praise their efforts and point out, in a positive way, where they could make things even better.