spinoff on mean kids

amother

Sun, Aug 24 2014, 8:06 pm

I was bullied off and on as a kid. In my case my parents were really clueless, and I didn't dress/have anything that would be considered age apropriate.

But I'm seeing that while my kids aren't necessarily bullied, none of them feel too popular, so I'm looking for tips, what can you do to increase your child's popularity?

busymom

Sun, Aug 24 2014, 8:50 pm

Build their confidence. Children (and adults) find confident people magnetic. Let your children know what their strong points are. Be specific with compliments. Encourage independence. Nothing builds confidence like a job well done on their own. When they ask for help with a project, with making a decision or finding a solution, say, "What do YOU think? You are so smart. I know you can come up with something really good!" Then, when they manage on their own or come up with a good solution, you can praise them for their creativity/problem solving abilities, and say, "I knew you can do this!"
Of course always be there to support your child, but use every opportunity to highlight their strengths and show that you believe in their ability to succeed. Encouraging good social skills helps, but I think confidence is key.