CNBC recently reported that Dr. Aliza Pressman, Co-Founder and Director of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, has spent two decades studying what it takes to raise successful, fulfilled children. Dr. Pressman highlights the importance of a skill that is often overlooked yet essential for raising capable individuals: cultivating inner efficacy.
Inner efficacy is defined as one’s belief in their abilities to take the necessary actions to achieve their goals. Unlike self-esteem, which is primarily focused on evaluating one’s worth, inner efficacy relates to the confidence and determination to overcome challenges and pursue one’s dreams.
Children with a strong sense of inner efficacy are more likely to embrace new challenges, persevere in the face of setbacks, and develop a mindset that embraces continuous improvement.
Children with a strong sense of inner efficacy are more likely to embrace new challenges
Researchers have identified four key sources that contribute to the development of inner efficacy in children:
Experiencing Success through Purposeful Challenge
Children learn to build confidence in their abilities by completing tasks that are challenging yet within their reach. To facilitate this, parents can create opportunities for their children to experience success while also gently pushing them beyond their perceived limits.
Witnessing Success in Others
Seeing others who share similar traits or interests succeed can be a powerful inspiration. Parents should ensure their children are exposed to diverse role models to foster the belief that they too can achieve success.
Reflecting on Past Accomplishments
Reminiscing about past successes can reinforce children’s belief in their capabilities. Parents can encourage their children to recount and celebrate positive experiences, thereby building their confidence in their ability to succeed.
Developing Emotional Management Skills:
The ability to remain emotionally regulated and focused helps children navigate challenges more effectively. Equipping children with emotional management techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation will provide them with tools to manage stress and anxiety.
The ability to remain emotionally regulated and focused helps children navigate challenges more effectively
Parents can facilitate the development of inner strength in their children by:
Praising Effort Over Immediate Perfection
Emphasize the importance of effort and perseverance rather than expecting immediate success. Teach children that growth is a result of consistent effort and that learning from setbacks is inherent to the process.
Providing Positive and Constructive Feedback
Guide children to recognize and correct errors rather than resorting to criticism. Offer detailed explanations, ask thoughtful questions, and reinforce learned skills to support growth and learning.
Offering Specific and Heartfelt Praise
Recognize and commend children’s hard work, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Specific praise encourages positive behaviors and motivates children to continue improving.
Fostering Strategic Thinking
Teach children to identify and implement strategies and actions that lead to success. Link actions to outcomes, both positive and negative, to encourage a deeper understanding of cause and effect.
By cultivating inner efficacy, parents equip their children to face life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. According to Dr. Aliza Pressman, today’s parents should support a holistic approach to parenting, placing the development of essential skills like inner strength on par with academic and social progress.
- Experiencing success through purposeful challenges: Children build confidence by completing tasks that are challenging yet achievable. Parents can facilitate this by creating opportunities for success and gently pushing their children beyond their perceived limits.
- Witnessing success in others: Exposure to diverse role models who share similar traits or interests and have achieved success can inspire children and foster the belief that they, too, can succeed.
- Reflecting on past accomplishments: Encouraging children to reminisce and celebrate their past successes reinforces their belief in their capabilities and builds their confidence for future endeavors.
- Developing emotional management skills: Teaching children techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation helps them regulate their emotions and focus, enabling them to effectively navigate challenges and manage stress and anxiety.
- Praising effort over immediate perfection: Emphasize the value of hard work and perseverance instead of expecting instant success. Teach children that growth comes from consistent effort and that setbacks are opportunities for learning.
- Providing positive and constructive feedback: Guide children to identify and correct their mistakes without resorting to criticism. Offer detailed explanations, ask thoughtful questions, and reinforce learned skills to promote growth and learning.
- Offering specific and heartfelt praise: Recognize and commend your children’s hard work, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Specific praise encourages positive behaviors and motivates children to continue improving.
- Fostering strategic thinking: Teach children to identify and implement successful strategies and actions. Help them understand the link between actions and outcomes, both positive and negative, to develop a deeper understanding of cause and effect.
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