Confidence

When should I choose this Area of Focus for my Gabadoo?

Parents may observe certain behaviours at home that may indicate their child is struggling with confidence and would benefit from support through Gabadoo, such as:

Engaging in negative self-talk, constantly putting themselves down, or expressing a lack of belief in their abilities.
Avoidance of challenges out of fear of failure. They may be hesitant to take risks or try new activities because they doubt their ability to succeed.
Excessively concerned about making mistakes, become frustrated or upset when they don't meet their own high standards, and strive for flawless performance.
Social withdrawal and difficulty engaging with peers. Children may isolate themselves, avoid social situations, or struggle to initiate and maintain relationships due to a lack of self-assurance.
They may seek constant approval and validation from others. They may excessively seek reassurance and depend on external praise to feel validated or worthy.
They may express dissatisfaction with their physical appearance, compare themselves unfavorably to others, or exhibit signs of low self-esteem related to their body image.
They may have a hard time handling criticism. They may become defensive, overly sensitive, or feel deeply hurt by constructive feedback, perceiving it as a personal attack.

Here are some ways our team can help:

Identifying strengths and interests to develop a positive self-perception and build confidence in their capabilities.
Collaboratively establishing realistic and attainable goals that are challenging but within your child's reach. They can design tasks that are appropriately challenging, promote skill development, and provide a sense of accomplishment when completed successfully.
Collaboratively identifying ways to expand their social network and involvement in the community.
Provide ways to support their emotional self-regulation if this is affecting their confidence including relaxation techniques, gradual exposure to feared situations, and teaching coping skills to manage anxiety and build confidence.
Support to engage in purposeful and meaningful play and leisure activities which can contribute to a child's confidence. We can help identify and facilitate activities that promote skill development, independence, and enjoyment, enhancing the child's confidence and self-esteem.

What information do I need to include in my Gabadoo?

As our Gabadoo Team have never met your family before and know nothing about your child, they can only provide strategies based on the information you provide so be very detailed!

After you have filled in the relevant information in your Gabadoo, go through this checklist to make sure you have included the following:

Family & Home Life:

Description of your family & the structure of your family including siblings, pets or any extended family who are living in your home.

Your daily routine including school hours, drop offs, child-care and free time in the evening and at the weekends so our team provide activities that are achievable for your routine.

Strengths and Interests:

What does your child like to do?

What games, toys, T.V. programs, characters do they like?

What type of activities do they seek out? Do they have hobbies, attend extra-curriculars etc?

What are some of their sensory preferences (e.g. swinging, tickling, climbing, cuddling, music, singing)?

Do they respond to praise from adults?

What motivates them?

Additional Information:

What class is your child in at school?

What type of schooling do they receive? i.e. homeschooling, mainstream N.S., gaelscoil, preschool, ASD class, Special School.

Have you seen any professionals in the past in relation to their development? If so, what was the outcome?

What have you tried before in terms of developing their confidence?

Who do they interact with on a daily basis?

What does your child use as their method of communication? e.g. gestures, words, PECs, Lamh.

Make sure to include:

What you have seen at home/school and how is this impacting on your child or your family?

What would you like to gain from this Gabadoo?

List your observations in relation to how your child currently acts in different situations, how they respond to praise or criticism, how they manage their emotions, if they articulate how they are feeling in situations and how they cope, what their friendships look like etc.

Also include any changes that have currently recently or if you have noticed a regression in your child's confidence? If so, what do you think may have cause this?

Remember: The more information you give our team, the more individualised and relevant your plan will be.

What support will I receive for my child?

Your information will be reviewed by one of our Gabadoo Experts who is experienced in the area of social and emotional skills. They will detail individualised strategies, activities, next steps and helpful organisations and products that you can use at home to support your child.