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5 Ways to Raise Confident Tweens
This 5 Ways to Raise Confident Tweens post is sponsored by JIMMY Patterson Books.
5 Ways to Raise Confident Tweens
Raising children is one of the hardest things that I have ever done. There is so much pressure to do things right and to help these kids plan amazing futures that sometimes I forgot about all of the pressures that my kids have as well. We hope that you enjoy these 5 Ways to Raise Confident Tweens.
Kids have pressure from their parents to succeed in school, to always have good manners, to do the right things, to be kind, to be compassionate and more. While pressure may be a strong word, there is the expectation that our children will do all of these things and more.
Raising confident tweens is something that I strive for as a parent every single day. These 5 Ways to Raise Confident Tweens are guidelines that I follow in order to boost my kid’s confidence.
5 Ways to Raise Confident Tweens
1. Let them fail.
Fail. That’s right. Let them fail. I have failed more times than I can count and absolutely every single time, I have learned so much that this is exactly what I want my children experience. There is nothing like a fresh failure to make you examine where you went wrong.
My daughter wanted to learn how to bake and she bought the ingredients to make cookies. She had never baked a thing before and although I offered to help, she wanted to do it on her own. Her first batch was awful because she forgot the sugar and something else. She threw everything away and started again right away after figuring out where she went wrong. The second batch was perfect and she hasn’t stopped baking since. This child learns so much from every failure that she is not at all afraid to not do well at something.
2. Let them fly.
Seeing one or all of my children fly is one of the most exciting things to me. Although I am a bit of a helicopter parent, I have no problem letting them fly when they feel that they are ready. My son joined the mountain biking team last year and his intention was to just attend the practices instead of the practices plus the competition. After watching one competition he decided that he was ready to compete. I didn’t agree but I do trust him so we let him try the competition without being fully prepared. He excelled and came in second place which was so exciting. Letting him fly was so hard but he knew that he was ready.
3. Ask them what they learned.
One of the most important things when teaching a child a lesson is to make certain that they comprehend what you have taught them. I always ask my kids to tell me about what we just learned or what they learned because I want to make certain that they not only understand, that they also practice.
4. Send the right message.
Sending the right message to tweens is not always easy. There are so many things coming at them. The right message is one that everyone in the family is comfortable with and one that makes us all better humans.
5. No negative talk.
This has been a rule in my house. We never say negative things about ourselves or others. We don’t stand in front of a mirror to say we are fat or that we don’t like something about ourselves. We don’t call each other stupid or any names at all besides the ones given to us by our parents. I have raised my kids to believe that they are perfect just like they are. This includes being called names by other people, being in a negative environment or bullying from others.
Each one of my kids has encountered a bully or two while in school and I believe that the key to combatting bullies is to raise confident kids and teach them that it is never ok to bully anyone for any reason. A great book on this topic that the kids have been reading isPottymouth and Stoopid by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. Read more about the book below!
Pottymouth and Stoopid: The Best Book for kids in Years!
David and his best friend Michael were tagged with awful nicknames way back in preschool when everyone did silly things. Fast-forward to seventh grade: “Pottymouth” and “Stoopid” are still stuck with the names—and everyone in school, including the teachers and their principal, believe the labels are true.
So how do they go about changing everyone's minds? By turning their misery into megastardom on TV, of course! Follow their roller-coaster journey from the ultimate losers to the biggest winners, with more than 100 hilarious illustrations in this signature Patterson format. And this important story delivers more than just laughs—it shows that the worst bullying doesn't have to be physical . . . and that things will get better.
This book is now a favorite in our house and has been read by all three of my kids. The anti-bullying messaging is really one that all kids need to hear and practice. Your kids will love Pottymouth and Stoopid!
Drown out the Bullies! + Win a Copy of Pottymouth and Stoopid
One lucky winner from Divine Lifestyle will receive a copy of Pottymouth and Stoopid plus a pair of kids’ wireless noise reduction headphones. To enter, use the Rafflecopter below.
Giveaway open to US addresses only. Prizing provided by JIMMY Patterson Books.
My daughter would really like to read this book, she has had many run ins with mean kids throughout her years and would love the message of this book
There was some name calling in her class this past year. I would like for her to have some insight.
I have two tween boys in the house right now and they are going to love this book. I need to get them a copy!
These are great tips for raising confident tweens. I will have to send this book to my sister for my niece.
I love this. Let them fail. Absolutely let them fail and the get back up and try again. Too many parents never allow their kids to really try and risk failure.
My daughter would like to read it because she’s intrigued by the title.
My son has been wanting to read this so i’d love to win it and surprise him with it.
My daughter would enjoy the characters and illustrations!
These are some great tips, the tween and teen years are really important in making sure a young person grows in confidence.
This sounds like a great book for tweens. I have always been a fan of James Patterson.
I think these are important things to keep in mind. It’s hard to step back and let them do their own thing sometimes! Pottymouth and Stoopid sounds like a great book with a positive message.
Having raised 4 tweens, I agree with all of the tips that you share here. This seems like a really great book – I may buy a few of these as gifts for my friends with tweens!
Fantastic book for tweens. These are some amazing tips, which I am sharing right now with my cousin that has 2 little ones.
The no negative talk is such a great idea. It’s easy for me to complain that I am looking a bit chunky and I can see where that could rub off on my girls and lead to self-esteem issues with them. James Patterson has such a great list of titles for tweens, I can’t wait for my daughter to get her hands on a copy of Potty Mouth and Stoopid.
I would give the book to my cousin’s children. One of them was being bullied and had to be relocated to another school.
Great tips! It can be so hard to make sure kids learns those important lessons early on. We want to protect them from so much and help them. But they have to fall down and learn to get back up on their own. I will have to check out this book. I have heard such great things.
These are really amazing tips! Raising confident tweens is a real challenge in this generation. Thanks for sharing these. Really helpful!
Great book and i am raising a tween now so I am well aware of the important issue of bullying. My son is a self starter and I let him work on his own and he is doing so well.
I wish more books like this existed when I was a kid, or heck, even when kiddo was younger. It’s a easy way to bring forward a message without being so ‘in their face.’
What a great book and good tips. Just the other day my friend asked me what we weren’t allowed to say at home, like “hate” or “stupid” or anything like that. It was interesting to hear, Tweens are so impressionable too, I often think about the things that affected me, but they are life experiences and like you said, let them fail. We all learn how to get back up!
I love the first two especially. Let them fail and let them fly. So true, and great advice!
My son would like to read these books because he is early elementary age, and it would be great to see how bullying can affect kids in a way he can relate to.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
You’re so right, there is so much negative talk these days, the last thing they need is more. I definitely don’t want to caudal my children but there needs to be balance in their life!
I am getting this book for my sister for her tween son and daughter to read. This is the age when kids want to assert their independence, show their personality, and sometimes, just be a brat. The tween years is a difficult stage for both parents and kids. If we survived them being in the Tworrible and Threenager stage, we can breeze through this tween years!
I’ve seen this book on a few blogs and it looks like an interesting one. Sounds like a good giveaway too!
Growing up is tricky stuff, even before social media comes into play. These are great tips for raising tweens who are daring and at the same time ok with not everything going their way. I need to recommend the book to my mama friends for their tweens.
Great tips! I’ve gotten 2 through the tweenage years and are now teenagers (I need a book for that please) – I still have two more that are slowly entering tween years.
I worry I might already have a tween! She just turned eight. It’s so fascinating to watch her grow, as well as her classmates. I really want her to be a nice and confident kid.
My kids would like to read this book because it would teach them how to deal with bullies and it would be humorous. They are both in their tween years.
This is great. I gave this advice to my son when he was a tween and continue to give it to him now.
This topic is very timely for me, my son is a tween for about four more months. I’m constantly wondering if I’m sending the right messages, if he is picking up what I’m putting down. How he is handling the transition and hormones into teenagery. This is a tough time for sure, I remember this age well.
I will ask if he is interested in this book or if he has heard of it.
My son is entering 4th geade. It’s the perfect age for this book!
I’m going to need that book…ha! no seriously though! These are great tips I plan to use as early as possible (I use them already as I think about it!) I do believe that failing in something is not a negative thing, teach them no one is perfect and if they do their best than that’s all we can ask of them, keep turckin!
nice post!
My cousin’s child was bullied and I think this might help him.
YES to all of these!! I love the “let them fail” the best. Kids have to learn from their mistakes and letting them fail is hard but must be done!
While I am not raising any tweens just yet, we are growing our family this year. I totally still think it is something my hubby and I can check out. Will pass it to friends afterwards. Looks very informative too. Thank you!
These are great guide and pointers. I have two tweens and sometimes it can be difficult to motivate them to be all positive.
looks like a good book for my little niece to check out who is just getting into reading she is telling me about a mean girl at school
My cousin would love this because she loves to read.
It can be really hard to do everything right and sometimes we all fail. I am all about improving everyday, thanks for the reminders!
It’s so nice to let them live their lives and learn their lessons but with some proper guidance as well. I think it’s important that we never criticize them in a way that will damage their confidence permanently. We have to be sensitive towards their feelings too. These are great tips!
This is my first time hearing about this book but there are kids in the family who might appreciate it! I think it’s important to raise kids with confidence, it will help them achieve more in life as they grow up! These are lovely tips, tried and tested!
I think it has a great lesson that my son can learn form.
I understand some parents want to protect their children from anything that might harm them physically or emotionally. However, experience is always the best teacher. Let them learn, and let them fail. Over-protecting them will not help them develop character.
All great tips and I have heard great things about this book. I plan on grabbing a copy for my niece
So picking up this book for my son! It looks like the perfect read for him!
my daughter is a avid reader, I have to get this book for her. It sounds funny and interesting and like a great read.
This book would be great read for both my school age kids.
My daughter has just entered the tween stage, I think she would really enjoys book.
My kids would like to read this book because it would teach them how to deal with a bully.
My daughter is passionate about the subject of anti-bullying and would love to read this book!
My daughter is passionate about anti-bullying and would love to read this book!