6 in 10 UAE parents say building confidence in their child is their top priority for 2025

 61% of parents say that building confidence in their child is their top priority for 2025. That’s according to new research released today by the Warrior Academy, which explores the hopes and dreams of parents for their children this year.

Almost one in three (28%) parents said concentration and focus was the most important to them, with more than a third (36%) saying that overcoming hesitation and fear, and maintaining self-discipline was something that they wanted their child to develop more of this year.

Interestingly, many parents cited their children as been quite shy and uncomfortable when it comes to meeting new people and entering new environments, hence they would encourage their child to build more resilience and character to face these situations.

The research, conducted by the Middle East’s largest martial arts club, paints a picture of a nation of parents committed to supporting their child’s development, by equipping them with the positive skills and traits that will set them up for life as they grow up.

The news follows studies on the impacts of external factors on children’s health growing up, with the extensive use of screens and smart phones being linked to an increase in mental health issues. On average, children aged 8-12 in the United States spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens, and teens spend up to a staggering 9 hours according to reports from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. A recent study publicised in the BMC Public Health found that more screen time was linked with more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, inattention and aggression in 9-10 year-olds, impacting children’s confidence levels.

Commenting on the research, Sebastian Bates, award-winning author of the ‘The Not a Victim’ book and Founder of the Warrior Academy, said:

“As the new-school term gets underway, we wanted to understand from parents their aspirations for their child’s development this year. Building confidence overwhelmingly came up as the top attribute, with parents feeling this would help their child become more resilient, increase their self-esteem and their sense of overall well-being.

 “But with so many factors at play as children grow up, and especially with many expats living in the UAE, it’s not always easy to ‘be confident’, and it’s no surprise that the parents in our survey felt this was one area that could be strengthened in their children. There are so many hurdles that children will experience that can often knock them down and have a real effect on their sense of self.

 “That’s why we set up the Warrior Academy – and we’re proud to have created the only specialised Character Development Centre in the Middle East – where we teach children the skills they need to become responsible, compassionate, and respectful members of society through martial arts.

 “I believe that having a strong character is key to a child’s success in life, influencing every decision they make, and through our Academies we hope to inspire a next generation of young adults to feel empowered to take on challenges head-on.”

 Parents also highlighted the importance of their child having courage, speaking up and being brave; in fact, 22% of parents want to equip their child with the tools to stand up to bullies if they ever experience this at school. Indeed, bullying is the biggest fear that dominates parents’ concerns for their children growing up, with parents worried about their child having to face these challenges at school. Perhaps this reveals why parents place so much emphasis on developing confidence and resilience in their child.

But whilst parents do have some worries in these areas, many have tried different methods and activities to help their child to overcome any potential issues and to build confidence. This includes encouraging their child to take part in after-school activities (with football, swimming and drama classes being popular), social engagements (such as ‘playdates’ with their friends) and spending time together as a family. Parents also sight the importance of positive reinforcement, being encouraging, motivational and supportive, with parents unanimously agreeing that having an open and honest dialogue with their child helps to build trust to alleviate any potential issues they may face.

The survey also revealed other, more softer skills in the survey that parents valued in the children. This included developing empathy, prioritising their wellbeing and taking care of their mental as well as their physical health, which was something parents hope their child can get into good habits of developing.

 Mahesh Gehani, parent of Devang Gehani from Dubai, had this to add:

“As a parent, a child should have confidence and not be bullied by anyone, this was why we came to the Warrior Academy, and all is good so far. My son has now started travelling to visit his friends by himself; he goes to his guitar classes now on his own; so he is building his self-confidence and his independence. He believes in himself that he can do this, and it’s helping him in his everyday life, increasing his focus and self-discipline. We are seeing him improve day by day; there are big changes, he now goes outside and is active, rather than spending so much time at home playing computer games. He’s evolving, he’s becoming stronger day by day, and has become more focused and self-confident!”