How to Build Self-Confidence in Kindergarten With Reading
Many kindergarten-aged children lack self-confidence because the world of education is foreign to them and seems to be a scary place. This is particularly evident in children who experienced little or no formal education in preschool or day-care centers. Attending "big school" may be intimidating to many of these 5- and 6-year old children even if they did attend preschool. Adding to the child's self-esteem through reading and the interaction involved is not difficult.
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Instructions
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Pick books to read to the children that depict kids of the same age experiencing difficulties with new experiences. Listening to how the protagonists overcame their troubles is an effective way to show examples to the children of how persistence and the willingness to succeed are keys to success.
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Talk with the parents about the importance of reading age-appropriate books to the child. Explain that reading books to the child about three times a day is vital to how well the students succeed in school. Children who are read to frequently are quickly able to recognize letters, sounds and simple words, which builds their self-confidence.
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Ask the children to identify characters, animals, colors and letters while you read the book. When a child points at the correct object, praise her. If he is incorrect, say something like, "Good try! But it's this one right here." Praise and encouragement to keep trying -- even though they fail at times -- helps build confidence.
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Tips & Warnings
Turn the books toward the children after reading each page. Ask the children to point to the pictures or ask them to tell you about the stories in their own words. This helps them identify that the pictures correlate with the written words in telling the story.
References
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