PW invited parents of Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Mumbai to share insights on how they boost their children’s confidence

“Born in a sports loving family, our son Vyom (class X) has picked up the nuances of swimming and football since he was introduced to the sports in class III. He gives as much importance to sports as he does to academics. Together we make an effort to watch domestic and international sports tournaments live on television despite our hectic schedules. On weekends, we engage in family debates on a range of topics, with the objective to accept each other’s viewpoints. I believe a healthy home environment that encourages open communication is critical for boosting self-confidence” — Sneha S. Desai, homemaker

“My daughter Alisha (class VII) has always been obsessed with sports. Unfortunately, she is a picky eater. Over the years however, I have learned to innovate healthy foods and other alternatives in order to help her expand her diet which gives her the nutrients she needs. For instance, I use honey instead of nutella and cook pancakes with bananas. Surprisingly, Alisha has taken a liking to my innovations. In addition, I have introduced eggs to increase her protein intake. A well-balanced diet has given her the foundation, discipline and confidence to vastly improve in sports.” — Neelima Mehta, jewellery designer, Era Jewels

“As responsible parents, right from the time he was little, we encouraged our son Vivaan (class VI) to openly communicate his feelings with us. We read, play board games,watch web series and movies, play outdoor sports, and go on family vacations together in the summer. We even share our experiences — good and bad — with him and seek each other’s opinions on the various activities that we involve ourselves. This has helped boost Vivaan’s confidence in expressing himself clearly and assertively” — Trupti Mandar Natekar, behavioural counsellor and parent coach

“Since early childhood, Yatharth (class VIII) has actively participated in scholastic and non-scholastic activities, attended field trips, and made time to teach his peers and friends as we have always believed that interacting with people, and exposure to the outer world helps improve self-confidence. To develop his life skills, we encourage him to use public transport for his daily activities and assign him household chores including grocery shopping. We also encourage him to organise small events for family and friends” — Shaili Parag Chokshi, homemaker