A warrior who faces death on the battlefield and still marches forward, an athlete or musician who is able to perform in front of millions of people, a single guy who’s able to cross a room to start a conversation with a single woman he finds attractive—where do they find the bravery to do these things? What is that certain quality we want to instill in our children that will make them brave when others cower? We will break that down into these 4 ways to teach your children how to be brave.
Table of Contents
1. Show them what bravery looks like.
If you want your children to be brave, then you have to be brave. Allow them to witness you stepping out of your comfort zones. If you are terrified of rollercoasters, face your fear with them and ride that monster at the park. Maybe you’re afraid dancing makes you look like an idiot. Take dance classes with your wife and prove yourself wrong. When your character is tested in front of your children, show them the strength you possess to do the right thing. We are tested in a vast variety of ways daily. Be your kids’ hero.
2. Challenge and praise them.
We naturally want to protect our children at all times. However, we also must challenge them constantly to try new things and to do things they might fear. Trying new food, speaking in front of the class, or playing a sport are some examples. When they step up and do these things, be sure to give ample praise and love. Build on their courageous attempts.
3. Invoke culture and heritage.
It is nearly impossible to complete a brave act without a reason for doing so. Our various cultures and rich heritage provide the foundation for what we believe. “Son, you are a Thompson and we have a long history of standing on the side of justice.” When we invoke family pride in that manner, we are invoking the heritage of our people and our nation. Teaching children their history and where they come from gives them the base they require to display courage.
4. Point out real-life role models.
When we think of heroes, we think of soldiers, firefighters, or police officers. They certainly all can provide many examples of courage and valor. Point that out to your kids. Go even further by giving them brave quotes from people, like this quote from John Wayne: “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” Perhaps you have a whiteboard or chalkboard in your home. Displaying a weekly quote about courage is a great way to get kids’ minds thinking in the right direction.
