Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – It's normal for parents to worry about their child's future, such as their ability to adapt, career and education. Moreover, most parents expect their children to grow up to be successful figures when they grow up.

However, parents must realize that each child has different abilities. However, parents can implement several ways to raise their children to be successful.

Quoting from CNBC Make It, here are five ways that parents can do so that their children can grow into successful figures according to psychologists and parenting experts, quoted on Tuesday (12/3/2024):

Teach Children Self-Control

According to research, self-control can determine future success. Therefore, it is important for parents to teach children how to control themselves.

The results of research at the University of Otago in New Zealand show that children who are able to control their emotions and behavior and ignore distractions usually grow up to be smarter and more motivated.

“Being a child who is difficult to disturb in his environment is the most important skill of the 21st century. This is one skill that many parents fail to teach their children,” wrote author and psychology expert, Nir Eyal.

According to Eyal, parents can start early to teach their children about self-control. For example, toddlers can begin to understand the concept of time, meaning parents can begin to explain the importance of taking time to focus on important developmental activities.

“Children can learn self-control through play, including games like freeze tag and 'red light, green light',” Eyal said.

Give Children Autonomy

Child psychologist Dr. Tovah Klein said that the ability to self-motivate is one of two important traits that can help children grow into successful figures.

According to parenting expert Ester Wojcicki, parents can set expectations for their children by being involved in daily activities, such as getting ready for school, determining after-school activities, and doing their assignments.

“The more often you trust your child to do things on their own, the more oblivious they will be,” Wojcicki says.

Apart from that, Eyal also advised parents to use tricks, such as making “agreements” with children. In this agreement, children are invited to commit to certain limits, such as having a maximum of one hour per day to use gadgets.

Prioritize Self-Confidence, Not Self-Esteem

Adults often apply “self-confidence” and “self-esteem” interchangeably. However, when it comes to raising children, educational psychologist, Michele Borba, said that there is only one thing that is more important.

According to Borba, self-esteem is how a person views themselves as a whole. Meanwhile, self-confidence is a reflection of how confident a person is in their own abilities in a particular situation.

These two concepts are interrelated. However, research shows that self-confidence is a better indicator of future success. Because, this can help strengthen children's beliefs that their skills and efforts will produce good results.

“True self-confidence is the result of doing good, facing obstacles, creating solutions, and getting back up,” says Borba.

Borba says parents can boost children's self-confidence by taking a “step back” and allowing them to succeed or fail, rather than sitting back and trying to solve their child's problems.

“Doing this can help them learn to let go and try again if they fail, and trust that they will eventually succeed,” says Borba.

Don't Focus Too Much on Perfection

Wojcicki raised three successful children, namely a doctor and two famous CEOs. In the process, Wojcicki never demanded perfection from his children.

According to Wojcicki, parents must have the courage to provide space for failure, be empathetic, and help children maintain self-confidence while learning to view failure as a learning opportunity.

According to research, perfectionism does not make children more likely to be successful in the future. On the contrary, this can actually cause mental health problems, such as anxiety and low self-esteem.

“You can teach your kids to change the way they think about making mistakes by openly discussing the mistakes you make, how you solve problems, and what you learn in the process,” says Bryant University psychology professor Allison Butler.

Teaching Financial Literacy

It's never too early to teach children about money, such as how to earn it, how to spend it wisely, and saving money while planning for the future.

According to a 2023 survey by the National Council of Financial Educators, the majority of students in the United States (US) do not learn about finances in school. As a result, they experience disadvantages as adults.

Parenting expert, Margot Machol Bisnow, revealed that the majority of parents of 70 high achieving adults taught financial literacy to their children when they were still young.

“While the parents I spoke with never encouraged their children to pursue high-paying jobs, they all made an effort to teach their children about money in one form or another,” Bisnow said.

“You can give kids an allowance and urge them to save their own money to buy things they want, but don't necessarily need, like a new pair of roller skates,” continues Bisnow.

According to Harvard-educated investor and founder of online financial advisor LearnVest, Alexa von Tobel, parents can talk to kids about money in practical ways, such as discussing how much everyday items cost,.

“Teach your children that money is nothing more than a tool to help live a desired life,” says von Tobel.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(dce)