Confidence boosters

Julia Gabriel aims at developing children into confident communicators, as children who are not brought up to believe in themselves will turn into shy, aggressive and noncommunicative adults.

Here are some pointers from Gabriel on what she calls nurturing lifelong learning: Create an atmosphere free from pressure. Stimulate. For instance, through making cookie dough, which will stimulate the sense of taste. Motivate. This is in order for children to have the desire to learn, and to do things. It will help them want to find out more. Construct knowledge. In this sense, the home/school connection is very important. Play. Children learn language through practical language. Use words like please and thanks. Through playing, they will also learn mathematical language. Environmental awareness. Invoke mathematical awareness. Creative awareness. Children will learn to take any simple material and create something out of it. Linguistic awareness. This can be done through drama; it will foster reading and writing behavior. Writing notes at home to each other is also another way of linguistic awareness.

Confidence, Gabriel said, also begins in the family setting in several ways: Conversation practice at daily family meals through using interesting and curious prompts. Children need patient, interested listeners who acknowledge their feelings, and allow them to develop ease of expression. Clear speech projects confidence. It can be done when reading stories, or practicing tongue twisters together as a family. Respecting individual family members for their unique differences. Children who do not score as well as their classmates or siblings in some areas will not be devastated if their parents are aware of their ability in other disciplines. Encourage self evaluation by asking a child's opinion, rather than dictating what younger ones should think. Develop a positive family culture by focusing on positive things. For instance, celebrate the seven a child got right in a test, rather than lamenting the three mistakes. -- JP