How to build confidence: creating an environment that nurtures and inspires

“Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.”
Michelle Obama

Research shows that confident children are much more likely to succeed academically. They’re also more likely to be happy and motivated, cope better with challenges, and bounce-back from adversity.

This is why, at BVIS HCMC, we’re committed to building self-confidence. 

In a supportive environment, we’ll encourage your child to pursue their passions, believe in their own unique abilities, and develop a strong sense of self. This will give them the self-belief they need to flourish personally, emotionally, and socially – and go on to achieve fantastic academic results.

What is confidence?

Confidence is about believing in yourself, your abilities, and your ideas.

Confident people typically:

• Have a strong sense of inner belief.
• Feel secure in themselves.
• Know they can handle anything that comes their way.
• Are happy to take on a challenge, whether that’s an exam, performance, and competition.
• Think ‘I can’ instead of ‘I can't’.

In school, confidence manifests itself in many ways. These range from putting your hand up to answer a question in class to playing an instrument in the school orchestra. But being confident doesn’t necessarily mean being ‘outgoing’ – people who are quiet or shy can be confident, too.
Confidence is also about understanding and accepting who you are as an individual.

What factors can affect a child’s confidence?

The importance of confidence in a young person’s life cannot be underestimated. But there are many factors that can have a positive or negative affect on their self-esteem. These include:

• Exam results and coursework marks.
• Friendships.
• Social media and advertising.
• The level of support a young person needs and/or receives.
• Body image and feelings about appearance.
• Achievements and skills.

While good experiences, like doing well on a test, can build self-confidence, negative experiences can lower self-esteem. Your child’s confidence may change from day-to-day, too.

This is why it’s so important to create an environment where each student receives the right support, feels at home, and has the tools they need to build resilience.

A supportive environment where confidence blossoms

Our school is a compassionate, caring, and respectful place to learn, where every child is encouraged to be themselves. We support our learners to take calculated risks and ask for help whenever they need it, too. 

1/ A truly unique international school

Home to students from around the world, BVIS HCMC is a diverse community where learners are exposed to a variety of cultures, experiences, and perspectives. This broadens their view of the world, giving them the confidence to interact with different people and environments.

2/ A place to belong

In our nurturing environment, characterised by integrity, compassion, and respect for all, each child finds a sense of belonging. This foundation propels them towards success, fostering personal growth and academic excellence. Our dedicated educators offer outstanding learning experiences, fostering connections with peers and igniting the drive to shape their own future.

3/ A holistic education

The education we offer at BVIS HCMC is designed to nurture every aspect of our students’ development. Alongside academics, we offer experiences that develop vital social and emotional skills, attributes, and values. This creates well-rounded, confident individuals with a passion for learning.

Confidence-building activities

Both our lessons and extra-curricular programmes are packed with experiences designed to build self-confidence. 

We want our students to seize new opportunities, too, and see that anything is possible. And if something doesn’t work out, we encourage and inspire them to try again.

Confidence-building activities include:

• Team building activities – including life-changing expeditions to Tanzania Switzerland and Houston (to name just a few) – that foster collaboration and a sense of belonging. 
• Whether it’s delivering a presentation or debating a global issue, an array of public speaking opportunities will develop your child’s communication skills and boost their self-confidence.
• Hands-on, project-based learning encourages creativity and problem-solving, unlocking new passions and giving your child confidence in their abilities.
• Celebrating both big and small achievements contributes to a positive self-image, instils belief, and increases self-esteem.

How to build confidence in your child

We believe that building self-confidence is a collaborative effort between teachers and parents. Regular positive reinforcement, both at school and at home, will contribute to your child’s sense of accomplishment and self-worth. 

Below, we’ve suggested a few practical ideas to boost your child’s self-confidence:

• Embrace individuality. Encourage your child to appreciate what they’re good at, as well as what they find harder to do. It’s important they understand that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.
• Celebrate small achievements. Whether it’s signing up for an after-school club or writing the first line of a tricky piece of coursework, help your child to realise that every small action is a step towards a bigger achievement.
• Encourage passions. Encourage your child to do what they love. Their confidence will grow by taking part in activities or learning experiences that align with their passions.
• Be adaptable. Support your child as they consider their options, review their goals, and adjust their efforts to meet changing demands and circumstances.
• Be positive. Show your child how to face setbacks with a positive mindset, seeing difficulties as ways to learn, not insurmountable obstacles.

For more information about how to enrol your child at our school, please get in touch with us at admissions@bvisvietnam.com / phone number +84 (28) 3758 8033.