7 ways to help your child develop positive self-esteem

 

Simply praising your child can actually do more harm than good. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to build self confidence in a child.

At a Glance

• Developing positive self-esteem is especially important for kids with learning and thinking differences.

• Self-esteem is tied to how capable and valuable your child feels.

• Giving your child ways to recognize strengths helps to boost self-esteem.

Parental guide to build confidence in kids

Building self-confidence in kids is one of the most important things parents can do. Self-dignity lets children feel proud of themselves; it lets them hold their heads high. This belief in self-leads to the courage to try new things. Self-morale really affects every aspect of a person’s life because it affects how you value yourself and those around you. Fostering healthy self-esteem in children is a step to helping them have decent lives.

How can you help to foster your child's self-esteem?

How can a parent help to foster healthy self-esteem in a child? These tips can make a big difference:

• Be careful what you say. Kids can be sensitive to parents' and others' words. Remember to praise your child not only for a job well done, but also for effort. But be truthful. For example, if your child doesn't make the soccer team, avoid saying something like, "Well, next time you'll work harder and make it." Instead, try "Well, you didn't make the team, but I'm really proud of the effort you put into it." Reward effort and completion instead of outcome.

Teaching Children About Self-Esteem Using the Simile of a “Self-Esteem Bank Account”

Stephen R. Covey, author of the best-seller "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", writes in his emotional bank account. The idea is that you have one emotional bank account with each other person with whom you have a relationship and the level of trust within a specific relationship depends on the balance of the bank account.

If you have made many withdrawals, for example, by making mean comments, ignoring the person or hurting the person in some other way, the balance of your account will be very low or even overdrawn. In such a case the level of trust in the relationship will be low or very low.