The Importance of Positive Self Esteem and Tips for Building it in your Child

Self esteem is the lens through which we perceive ourselves and our importance in the world. It is the confidence that we have in ourself. It determines how much we appreciate our existence and the faith we have in our decisions.

Here is a quick summary of the differences between children with a healthy self esteem and an un healthy (negative) self esteem.

 

Children with positive self esteem are more confident and happier in life but even that is not the most important part.

The reason why positive self esteem is so significant is due to the way it makes a child feel, not just during early years, but throughout their life.

Being a supportive and protective (not over protective) parent is the key. Your child needs to know they do not have to earn your love and support. As a parent, you constantly have to give them enough space to fly but also provide support when the fail.

Make positive language a part of your daily life. Here is a list of some common mistakes that parents sometimes unknowingly makes that negatively impacts their child.

Let your child know you are there no matter what. Praise them for effort, not the end result. This makes them feel that its ok to lose.

Be there when they mess up, even if you are angry at them. Once the moment passes, that is when it’s the right time for an intervention. The reason for this is the fact that the child is scared when they make a mistake. By not being angry, you are letting them know that they can count on you in hard times. Of course, do not mix this up with spoiling the child. Make all the changes you need to make, but no immediately. Let them relax and have time to absorb the incident. After that, you can discuss and take all the necessary measures that need to be taken.

Encourage friendships and put in extra effort if your child is having trouble making friends. Healthy friendships play a vital role in building a positive self esteem.

Most importantly, be very aware of what you are communicating to your child. Introspect regularly and keep tweaking your parental strategy in accordance with the needs of your child.