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Written by Jennifer Page
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… confidence doesn’t come first. Action does.
Kids don’t wake up one day suddenly believing in themselves. They need opportunities to step up, try, stumble, and realise they’re capable of more than they thought.
And sport? It’s the perfect playground for that.
It’s easy to think, “If only my child was more confident, they’d feel better and try more things.”
But actually, it works the other way around—kids become confident after they step into challenges and see what they’re capable of. Confidence isn’t something we can give them—it’s something they build through experience.
If sport feels like “you must get it right,” kids hesitate to try.
Instead, they need an environment where mistakes aren’t a disaster—they’re just part of learning. They also need role models who get it and support them when things don’t go perfectly. And that includes you as their parent!
The more chances kids get to try (without pressure), the more resilient they become. That’s why it’s so important to praise effort over results, encourage them to keep going when things get tough, and—hard as it is—let them struggle a little. Growth happens when they push past what’s easy.
I’m reminded of one of our athletes who has been part of Affinity and Sapphire for almost a decade. She started in gymnastics, where she thrived in a structured environment, focusing on individual progress.
But when she switched to cheerleading, it was a whole different world – louder, faster, more team-based. She felt out of her depth. She was hesitant, overwhelmed, and worried about making mistakes in front of others.
Then, at her first event, she fell.
She was devastated. She could have quit. But instead, with the support of her coaches, parents, and her own determination, she doubled down.
She put in the work, learned from her setback, and came back stronger.
Now? She’s a star. A powerhouse performer, thriving in the very environment that once scared her. And not only that—she’s stepping into coaching, inspiring other young athletes by showing them that confidence isn’t something you’re given. It’s something you earn.
Confidence doesn’t come from waiting until your child feels ready—it comes from them taking action.
So if your child is hesitating, encourage them to step forward anyway. Give them opportunities to try, to struggle, to succeed on their own terms. That’s how real confidence is made.
If this resonates with you, and you want to help your child build real confidence, why not start with an environment that supports them to try?
At Affinity, we create that space—where kids can challenge themselves, make mistakes, and discover what they’re really capable of.
Offering gymnastics, cheer and parkour classes where people of all ages and abilities can feel good about themselves, and achieve success in an atmosphere designed for movement, health and fun. We run classes at our own sites in Hoddesdon and Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, UK.
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