18 Sep 2025

Parenting: raising assertive children

From Nine To Noon, 11:25 am on 18 September 2025
Cheerful child on the street portrait. Selective focus. Kid.

Photo: TATEVOSIAN YANA

How to help children to be more assertive and self confident, without being demanding and aggressive.

Clinical psychologist and mum of 3, Jacqui Maguire says assertiveness is a life skill, not a personality trait.

She says children can learn it with practice, encouragement, and role models.

But often parents don't really have a handle on this skill either and assertiveness takes practice for everyone.