Parents want what is best for their children, but one common mistake could be undermining their confidence without them even realizing it.

There is no handbook for parenting, and many moms and dads find it more challenging than they anticipated. According to a Pew Research Report, 62 percent of parents say being a parent has been at least somewhat harder than they expected.

Building confidence during childhood can help children tackle challenges, recover from setbacks and trust in their own abilities. As concerns about children's mental health continue to grow, many parents are looking for ways to support their emotional development. The above report also found that four-in-10 U.S. parents with children younger than 18 are extremely or very worried that their children might struggle with anxiety or depression.

Newsweek spoke to Jill Hartrich, a New York City-based child therapist and parenting expert, about one of the most common mistakes parents unknowingly make that can affect a child's confidence

Why Rescuing Children Can Backfire

Hartrich said one of the biggest mistakes parents make is stepping in too quickly when their child is struggling.

“Parents who jump in to solve a problem or smooth over a conflict the moment a child becomes upset undermine the child’s internal desire to solve problems,” she said.

When children are given opportunities to be independent and work through challenges on their own, they learn to trust themselves and take pride in what they accomplish.

“By overly accommodating or attempting to pacify a situation, parents remove the opportunity for kids to work through difficult moments,” she added.

While parents are usually trying to be supportive, Hartrich said children can interpret those actions differently.

“In those moments, the child thinks ‘my parent doesn’t believe I can handle this’ or ‘this is too hard for me.' Children build confidence by experiencing struggles and subsequently experiencing success," she said.

Successfully getting through challenges helps children develop confidence and reinforces the belief that they can cope with difficult situations in the future.

What Parents Should Do Instead

Hartrich said parents should avoid being overly accommodating or protective when their child encounters a challenge, whether that is being unable to kick a soccer ball or struggling to tie their shoelaces.

She encourages parents to allow children to experience natural consequences when appropriate.

“If your child forgets their homework, avoid the temptation to email their teacher to explain. Instead, help your child experience the consequence. While these moments can be hard for kids and parents, they’re essential to building confident and resilient children,” Hartrich said.

Rather than immediately stepping in to fix a problem, Hartrich recommends offering support while encouraging children to persevere.

“Instead, try a combination of empathy and encouragement. Let your child know that you know this is hard and you believe in them to handle hard things," she said.

“Building distress tolerance is an essential step of developing strong self-efficacy.”

Building Confidence Through Discomfort

Hartrich advises parents to "sit in the discomfort" and help children see that they are capable of handling unfamiliar or challenging situations.

“A supportive parent can sit with their child without solving their problems for them,” she said.

Once a child has worked through a difficult moment, Hartrich recommends acknowledging their effort.

“Once your child overcomes a difficult moment, provide specific and labeled praise.”

Praise can help strengthen a child's self-confidence and reinforce that their parents believe in their abilities. Hartrich added that allowing logical consequences to occur can also help children build confidence and resilience over time.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-Sang