Whether your child is a shrinking violet or a confident go-getter can have as much to do with genetics as it has with parenting, according to more and more research. But all the experts agree that parents still play a crucial role in how their kids’ confidence develops.
Up to one in five kids can be born genetically predisposed to being “inhibited” says information out the Shyness Research Institute in the US – and separate research has discovered the presence of a “shyness” gene in some kids that can be fired up by stressed-out parenting.
Melbourne psychologist Andrew Fuller, author of books including Tricky Kids, says no matter whether an inherited trait or not, confidence is one of the most powerful, and one of the most elusive, qualities that can help lead to success in life – and kids need a fair bit of involvement from parents to reach their confidence potential.
“Building confidence means that [our kids] develop the courage to try out new things,” he says.
Encouragement, he adds, is a powerful confidence-building tool that parents can engage.

In the genes

But back to genetics, if there’s shyness gene, are there also kids who are born more prone to having a higher self-esteem?
A 2009 study from London’s Institute of Psychiatry claimed that the ability to perform under pressure and contain a certain level of self-belief may be something people are born with.
This same study also showed that children with a greater belief in their own abilities often performed better at school, even if they were actually less intelligent.

What about nurture?

Fuller offers these tips to help parents raise confident kids:

• Don’t rescue kids who are struggling with a new activity – Fuller describes this sort of intervention as “toxic” because it undermines a child’s confidence in their own ability.
• Trust in your child’s abilities – and show that you do.
• Ask your child for help – requesting their assistance tells a child that you regard them as capable and competent.
• Trust your own intuition – kids can be perceptive and they’ll pick up on your self-doubts, even if you’re trying to hide them.
• Build a “have-a-go” culture at home – Fuller says kids only learn to deliberately practice skills that they are not as good at when someone has clearly told them that they believe in them and that mistakes are the only way to get better at something.

Courtesy: http://www.kidspot.com.au/Preschool-Development-Confident-kids-Are-they-born-or-bred+7147+32+article.htm