Five Effective Parenting Strategies For Raising Assertive Kids

Teach your kids to be confident and emotionally intelligent, so that they can stand up for themselves (and also, other people) without being hurtful and mean.

Assertiveness ― self-assured and confident behavior ― helps people communicate their opinions, beliefs, and feelings honestly and clearly. But this quality is not innate in all children. You have to teach this skill to them. Your little one should learn to be assertive, and as parents, you have to raise them to become individuals, who are more resilient to others' opinions about them. Check out five effective parenting strategies for raising assertive children.

Teach assertive behaviors

Target your child’s individual behaviors because they are often easier and more specific to understand. Teach your kids assertive behaviors like making requests, starting or concluding conversations, saying “no,” standing firm on their ground, voicing their opinions, and sharing feelings. To begin with, pick one behavior, and wait patiently for teachable moment opportunities.

Train your child to interact with people in a group

Teach your kid the various ways and customs of meeting and interacting with a group of people. Often, kids find it uncomfortable to join a group of strangers, and they make limited eye contact while keeping conversations to the minimum. You can plan group play dates for your child to teach them the art of communication with a group of people.

Practice active listening

Active listening involves offering undivided attention to your little one and paying closer attention to what they are trying to convey. This strategy of mindful parenting can teach your child how to be more assertive. A confident kid is one who feels their opinion matters.

Ask and do not command

Many children love visiting the park for an afternoon trip, but your kid might not. Asserting your kid that visiting the park is enjoyable eliminates the chance of voicing their opinion. Instead, ask them how they feel about visiting the park and respect their response, enabling them to gain the confidence needed to share their opinion.

Respect their privacy

When family members or parents do not respect a kid’s privacy, it can leave your little one feeling violated, neglected, and unsafe. If your kid is trying to protect his space, listen to them and respect their actions. Respecting and complying with your little one’s right to privacy will help them acknowledge that you value their boundaries, and in turn, they will learn to be assertive and establish healthy boundaries around their personal space.

It may be time-consuming to teach assertiveness to your child, but your persistence will pay off!