Ask the Experts: Tori Cordiano

Q: How can parents promote confidence and esteem in their child?

A: “No matter a child’s age, her confidence improves when she is able to complete tasks with increasing independence,” says Tori Cordiano, assistant director of Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls. “One way parents can support this process is to give children room to manage their own work, at a level appropriate with their grade and abilities. Parents can allow children to take the lead on talking through what the homework is, completing it as independently as possible and returning it to school. One purpose of homework is to increase students’ sense of responsibility and strengthen their executive functioning. If parents manage every step of the homework process, particularly for older children, it’s harder to achieve those goals. This collaborative approach strengthens students’ sense of purpose and confidence in the classroom and beyond.”