How to Raise Independent Children Through Self-Efficacy: Don't Always Take Over

Every parent wants their child to grow up happy and resilient. However, a child’s psychological well-being is not only influenced by a good environment, but also by self-efficacy, or the simple belief within the child that ‘I am capable’.

This was revealed in research on self-efficacy conducted by IPB University family science expert Zahro Malihah. In her dissertation research, she involved 304 mothers with children aged 4-6 years from 19 kindergartens in West Bogor District.

The results showed that self-efficacy is the factor with the strongest direct relationship to children’s psychological well-being compared to other factors in the research model. According to Zahro, this finding shows that child well-being is not only determined by the quality of the surrounding environment, but also by experiences that help children build belief in their own abilities.

“When we talk about children’s psychological well-being, it is not enough to only look at whether the surrounding environment is good. We also need to see whether the child’s experiences at home and school help foster the belief that they are capable,” said Zahro in a written statement, quoted on Monday (24/8/2026).

According to her, self-efficacy differs from mere self-confidence. Self-efficacy is a person’s belief that they are capable of performing an action or facing a particular task.

In early childhood, this belief grows through everyday experiences. For example, a child tries to put on their own clothes, completes a game, faces difficulties, and experiences success from their efforts.

“The goal is not to make children always succeed. Children need to experience that not every effort succeeds immediately. They can face difficulties, try again, and receive appropriate support. It is from experiences like these that the belief ‘I am capable’ can grow,” said Zahro.

This research also shows that strengthening self-efficacy cannot be separated from the environment in which the child grows. At home, parents can give children the opportunity to try tasks appropriate to their age without always taking over when they face difficulties.