Powerful Ways To Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem
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Having children with good self-esteem means they will be able to cope with peer pressure and bullying. Children’s self-esteem is important for their future happiness and success.
Low self-esteem may have a major impact on children and it’s an important topic for parents to learn about. Not only while they are children, but also as adults. One of the most essential things you can do for your children is to help them develop self-esteem.
A child’s self-esteem isn’t only about whether or not they believe they are attractive, have great social skills or are athletic. Developing strong self-esteem in children can be difficult, but it can result in some very positive traits.
And it is up to you, the role of the parent, to nurture and build up that confidence in your children. If you are interested in self-esteem activities for kids I have a resource for your here.
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The Importance Of Building Self-Esteem
Children’s positive self-esteem might have a bigger influence than we realize. Here are some characteristics of children who have strong self-esteem:
- They hold themselves and others in high regard.
- Not frightened of being rejected
- They are more accountable, tell fewer lies, and are more honest when they speak up for themselves.
- Have better friendships
- They have an easier time with self regulation and self discipline
- Experience fewer or no negative thoughts
Furthermore, children with high self-esteem are more likely to have positive connections as adults and are less likely to join negative partnerships.
Isn’t it fantastic? Knowing your child will be held in such high regard that no one will treat them unfairly or take advantage of them when they grow older?
They are more likely to be successful and happy as adults if they have good self-esteem in childhood. In terms of their relationships, but also in terms of their professions and finances.
Isn’t it amazing how a little positive sense of self can do so much?
So, now you’re probably wondering… “OK, that sounds wonderful, but how can I help my child develop more self-esteem?”
What’s the good news? It’s all about how you raise them!
What’s the bad news? It’s all up to you.
But don’t be alarmed! It’s actually rather straightforward. There are a few simple things you can do to guarantee your child has a strong positive self-image. And they’re all basic, doable things that you can include into your daily routine.
Powerful Ways to Boost Self-Esteem in You Kids
Make Them Feel Your Love
Isn’t that simple? Not all of the time. It’s easy to believe we adore our children and that they are aware of our feelings. Do they, however?
Take a few moments to consider the best way to spend that quality time to make deep connections with your kids. What makes you feel loved, and what makes you feel unloved. Now, ask yourself if you are doing those things for your children.
Keep in mind that your child has a love language of his or her own. So many various things may demonstrate love to different children. Some children may require greater physical contact. Others may require additional encouragement from another family member.
We feel better about ourselves when we are liked. And children of all ages have considerably better self-esteem when we feel good about ourselves. Use your children’s love language to show your love in the best and most effective way.
See also: 5 Love Languages Of Kids: What’s Your Child’s Love Language?
Show Respect
Never call your child a name or dismiss them. Even if you believe they’re being a brat or being sluggish disrespect and attitude are never great options if you’re wanting to work on a child’s self esteem. When we accuse young people of poor behavior, they take it personally and believe you are referring to them, not the action which can lead to negative self-talk.
Take a step back and take a long, calming breath before speaking to them again, even if they are behaving badly. Any negativity on your part (even if it’s well-deserved!) will spawn negativity in them. Showing respect will diminish the disrespect in your home, and in social situations too!
See also: 8 Incredibly Effective Ways To Teach Children Respect And Politeness
Quality Time
Spending time with your children helps them feel more loved and wanted than anything else. We demonstrate to our children that they are more important than everything else in our life by spending more time with them.
They take precedence over our phones, television, washing, and housekeeping. Everything that looks little to adults may feel monumental to children.
Spending time with them makes them feel as though they are the most important person in the world to us. You can spend time doing something fun like a self-esteem game, scavenger hunts, household chore, board game or do a simple task like write together in a gratitude journal…any confidence-building activities done together will do.
Even if you just have a few minutes, make an effort to spend meaningful time with your children to help them develop a growth mindset in a delightful way.
See also: 6 Simple Habits To Nurture The Parent Child Bond
Set Attainable Goals
Setting practical goals that children may attain will boost their self-esteem and confidence. The worst thing you can do is set them up for failure.
Even if it’s only a few simple chores and stages. The fact that they can achieve anything on their own will boost their self-esteem tremendously.
They will improve their levels of competency and assist in the development of self-esteem by setting goals that they are capable of achieving.
See also: How To Establish A Daily Routine That Is Beneficial To Your Family
Allow Risks
It’s natural to want to impart all of our knowledge to our children in the hopes that they would learn things correctly and avoid making mistakes. It’s also very common for new parents to use “Helicopter parenting” as a parenting style. But that isn’t good for them.
Children must be able to take calculated risks. Even if it means they don’t always succeed at them. They must learn to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and try again.
Even though it appears like doing things for them is faster and simpler, we are robbing children of their opportunity to make decisions and learn from them.
And the more healthy chances they can take and succeed at, the more confident they will be in their capacity to take more difficult risks in the future.
See also: 12 Important Actions You Can Take To Spend More Quality Time With Your Kids
Don’t Make Mistakes A Negative Thing
You offered them an option and encouraged them to take a chance… They tried and failed. It’s all right! For both you and them.
Failing is an inevitable part of life. Every blunder is an opportunity to learn how to do things better the following time.
As long as you’re encouraging them by exploiting their mistakes. Tell them you’re proud of them for taking the risk. Explain to them that it’s okay to make mistakes from time to time. And they can talk about what they can do differently next time and handle the situation in different ways.
When it comes to boosting self-esteem, never shout at them, reprimand them, or call them names because of their mistakes.
See also: 10 Ways To Respond When A Child Makes A Mistake
Avoid Harsh Discipline
The minds of children are wired to do whatever it takes to gain attention. So if you criticize them harshly or talk negatively about them, that’s what they’ll learn to respond to and seek out.
Authoritarian parenting styles often are not the best for teaching how to turn setbacks into learning opportunities.
The fear conditioning paradigm exemplifies this type of associative learning. For some people, conditional dread could be extremely intense and long-lasting for young children in the real world.
Learn how to parent in a good way. It’s all about focusing on the positive aspects of children’s behavior and using praise and encouragement to urge them to act in a more positive manner in order to gain your attention. In fact, Inductive Discipline is the best form of discipline you can use during child development.
See also: How Does Too Much Harsh Disciplining Cause Suffering In Children
Use Praise (Correctly)
Look for opportunities to compliment them on anything they do. Even if it’s a simple day-to-day activity. The more you praise and encourage your child for good behavior, the more they will seek it out.
Applaud them for attempting a task, even if they fail miserably at it.
The more praise a child receives, the more confident they grow. And their self-esteem will rise as a result. There’s nothing like being told you’re good at something. Especially from the people, you care about.
Aren’t we still looking for our parents’ approval as adults, and feeling pretty good about ourselves when we get it?
Just make certain it’s genuine. Kids are perceptive enough to recognize when something isn’t right.
See also: Too Much Praise With Kids Can Have This Devastating Effect On Your Child
Powerful Ways To Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem Bottom Line
Operant Conditioning, or being a role model is a great way to boost a child’s confidence . It’s no surprise that younger and older children imitate our actions. So, how can you expect your children to have healthy self-esteem if you don’t have it?
If you’re continually berating yourself for being chubby, you won’t be able to raise body-positive daughters and sons. (If you struggle with this, try positive affirmations!) And if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be difficult to instil confidence in your young kids. That includes your faith in your own parenting abilities to keep those negative feelings away.
The very best thing you can do to enhance your children’s self-esteem and confidence are to have confidence yourself!
