5 Activities to Build Confidence | Ranger Buddies | Mandai X

Whether it’s speaking up in class, trying a new sport, or making new friends, confidence plays a crucial role in a child’s ability to navigate the world. 

If formed early in your child’s development, confidence can shape resilience, social ease and the ability to embrace challenges later in life. It also builds the foundation for your child’s ability to recover from setbacks and develop true undauntedness.

So, how can we, as parents, actively nurture confidence in our children? Here are five fun, research-backed activities that will help your child build confidence, resilience and the courage to take on life’s challenges.

1: Role-Play Scenarios

Practice makes confidence. Role-playing is a safe and fun way to help children rehearse real-life scenarios such as introducing themselves to new friends, speaking in front of the class, or asking for help.

How to Do It:

• Choose common situations your child finds challenging.
• Act out the scene together, taking turns playing different roles.
• Gently guide your child through different responses and expressions.
• Praise effort rather than outcome. For example, say, “I love how you kept eye contact while introducing yourself!” instead of “You did it perfectly!”

Why It Works:

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory¹ emphasises the power of observational learning. When children see and practise behaviours in a structured way, they internalise confidence in those scenarios. 

2: Develop Skill Mastery through Hobbies

Confidence comes from competence. Encouraging children to develop a skill or hobby can do wonders for their confidence. Encourage activities your child shows a natural interest in. This could be painting, soccer, playing an instrument, or coding, for example. Having them develop this hobby encourages consistency through regular practice. As their skills progress over time, celebrate each milestone with them. This could be when they move to the next level of a structured pathway or win a game. 

How to Do It:

• Observe your child’s interests and help your child choose a hobby they genuinely enjoy.
• Set small, achievable goals to create a sense of accomplishment.
• Celebrate milestones, no matter how small — “You played that song beautifully!”
• Avoid comparison with others. Focus on your child's progress, not what peers are doing.

Why It Works:

According to Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow Theory^2,3, when children engage in activities that challenge them at the appropriate level, they experience a state of “flow” which increases their confidence and competence. Engaging in activities that are not overly simple – leading to boredom, or too challenging that they get discouraged allows children to develop their competence, and therefore confidence. 

3: Encourage Decision-Making

Empowered kids become confident adults. When children get to make their own choices, even in small ways, they develop a sense of autonomy and trust in their own judgement. Confidence grows when kids see that their decisions matter and that they can handle responsibility. If you as the parent step in too often, your children may start doubting their ability to make good choices. But when they are encouraged to decide for themselves, they build problem-solving skills and resilience. Even small decisions, like choosing what to wear or how to spend their time, reinforce self-reliance. Mistakes become learning experiences, showing them they can navigate challenges and grow stronger.

How to Do It:

• Start small by offering two choices (e.g., “Would you like the red or blue shirt today?”).
• Gradually introduce bigger decisions, like allowing them full choice of their wardrobe,  to plan a family activity or to choose an after-school club.
• Resist the urge to step in too quickly. Let your child navigate their choices, even if it means making small mistakes.

Why It Works:

According to Deci & Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory⁴, autonomy is one of the core psychological needs for developing confidence. When children are trusted with decisions, they learn that their voice matters and that they are capable of navigating choices and making decisions for themselves.

4: Introduce Outdoor Adventure Challenges

Conquering the outdoors builds inner strength. Unlike structured classroom settings, nature provides unpredictable challenges such as a steep hill to climb, a tricky path to navigate, or an unexpected rain shower. Facing these situations teaches children adaptability and perseverance while giving them a sense of accomplishment. The joy of reaching the top of a climb or completing an obstacle course reinforces the idea that effort leads to success, an essential lesson for building lifelong confidence.

Activities like rock climbing, obstacle courses, or camping push children beyond their comfort zone and build resilience in a fun, low-pressure way. Such activities encourage them to take calculated risks, problem-solve and develop physical and mental strength, all of which are key to growing their confidence.

How to Do It:

• Start with small physical challenges like climbing a jungle gym or walking on a balancing beam.
• Gradually increase difficulty such as learning to ride a bike.
• Keep the focus on fun and teamwork rather than competition. They are challenging their own skills, not comparing abilities with others. 

Why It Works:

Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods^5,6 emphasises that connecting with nature builds confidence by allowing kids to overcome real-world challenges. Louv coined the term “nature deficit disorder” and believes that growing up without exploring nature can make a child less confident. 

5: Practise Gratitude

Gratitude shifts focus from fear to appreciation. Encouraging children to focus on what they appreciate about themselves and their experiences helps them develop a positive self-view, a key component of confidence. 
By appreciating their strengths, efforts, and experiences, rather than fixating on what they lack, children begin to see themselves in a more capable and resilient light. Gratitude reinforces a sense of security and self-belief, making it easier for them to step outside their comfort zones with confidence.

How to Do It:

• Have your child keep a gratitude journal. Younger kids can draw pictures, while older kids can write a few sentences.
• Create a nightly ritual of sharing three things about their day that they are grateful for.
• Model gratitude yourself by expressing appreciation for challenges, too, so they see that growth comes from difficulty.

Why It Works:

Emmons & McCullough’s The Psychology of Gratitude⁷ found that practising gratitude improves self-esteem and reduces self-doubt. 

Confidence isn’t something children are simply born with. It’s something they build through experiences. By incorporating these five activities into your daily life, you’re helping your children develop a strong sense of self, resilience and the courage to take on challenges.

Every child is different, so experiment with these activities and observe which resonates most with your little ones. And remember, your encouragement and belief in them will lay the foundation for their own belief in themselves.

If your children are ready for their next adventure, encourage them to take on a mission today – because confidence grows when kids dare to explore, learn, and thrive! Explore all Ranger Buddies missions here. 

REVIEWED BY DR JACQUELINE CHUNG

References

^[1] McLeod, S. (2025, October 16). Albert Bandura’s social learning theory. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html 
^[2] TED. (2008, October 24). Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXIeFJCqsPs 
^[3] Sutton, J. (2025, March 31). Mihály Csíkszentmihályi: The father of flow. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-father-of-flow/ 
^[4] Ackerman, C. E. (2025, November 10). Self-determination theory and how it explains motivation. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/self-determination-theory/
^[5] Louv, R. (2005). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin Books.
^[6] The Guardian. (2009, July 11). Last child in the woods — review. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/11/last-child-woods-richard-louv
^[7] Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (Eds.). (2004). The psychology of gratitude. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195150100.001.0001