Show your child that you care about him and that you are dependable.

Children who feel loved are more likely to be confident. Your child must believe that, no matter what, someone will look out for him. Give your baby or toddler plenty of attention, encouragement, hugs and lap time.

Set a good example.

Children imitate whatthey see others do and what they hear others say. When you exercise and eat nourishing food, your child is more likely to do so as well. When you treat others with respect, your child probably will, too.

If you share things with others, your child also will learn to be thoughtful of others' feelings.

Provide opportunities for repetition. It takes practice for a child to crawl, pronounce new words or drink from a cup.

Your child doesn't get bored when she repeats things. Instead, by repeating things until she learns them, your child builds confidence she needs to try new things.

Young children need to be watched closely. However, they learn to be independent and to develop confidence by doing tasks such as dressing themselves and putting their toys away. It's important to let your child make choices, rather than deciding everything for her.

Encourage your child to play with other children and to be with adults who are not family members. Preschoolers need social opportunities to learn to see point of view of others. Young children are more likely to get along with teachers and classmates if they have had experiences with different adults and children.