Have you ever said something like, “My child’s creative, so they’re not really into maths!”, or “My child’s got a scientific brain, languages just aren’t their thing…”?

If so, you’re not alone. It’s a narrative I hear all the time and one I think we should start challenging.

We all want our children to feel confident. But there’s a difference between confidence that’s earned and confidence that’s inflated. While well-meaning praise might offer a temporary boost, true self-belief comes from something far more powerful: proven competence.